Ultimately a bit disappointing compared to 2007, say, lacking some depth and complexity. In addition to all the various wine-ranking systems out there, I can humbly offer my own very simple ranking system: Is a particular wine a STW (a Saturday Night Wine)? In this case the answer is no; I drank it on a Saturday night and wished I had opened a better bottle instead.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
One of my favorites from the La Rioja Alta, this bottling follows more of a rustic old world style with plenty of Bayleaf, balsamic, Worcestershire, but still balanced and delicious. For the quality of the wine, it’s a real value!
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Decanted 5 hours before drinking. Really start to find a good drinking window. A bit less structured and less fruit forward than the 2010, but starting to find some of the mature notes. Still some rubbery notes. Very enjoyable. 91 points.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Vibrant and elegant in equal measure. I gave this about 1h of air, not sure that's needed. Medium garnet color. Offers dried cherry, fig, oak, leather, dill and a hint of charcoal. Extremely smooth and rich on the palate. Medium-bodied, with cherry, dirt and salinity, streaked with caramel and supported by polished tannins. The oak is a bit of an outlier here, poking itself out somewhat unappealingly. It doesn't detract enough to really affect things, but if it mellows over the next few years this could really be something.
4 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Garnet in colour. Not much sediment. Aromas show red berries, sandalwood, some smokiness, garrigue. Very pleasant and floral overall. Not overpowering. Flavours follow. Light dusty ripe tannins that grow as they sit on the palate. Sweet berry fruits, herbs. I would like to see more acidity. Seems a touch, and just a touch, flat on the palate. More acidity would tighten all of this together. But all in all, good balance, smooth.
5 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
More disjointed today. Previous bottles have been well integrated, easy drinking but sufficiently complex to be notable. This one seems to have gaps between the fruit, oak, acid, chocolate and tannins. Nothing seems to have faded but everything’s moving away from each other. It’s probably me, not the wine. But….
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Powerful nose and palate. Cherry, orange, ash, tobacco. Does not absorb the oak as well as Arana, 904, or 890. Still, this is great value for money at just around 20 Euros. Drink 2025-2035.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
A classic Rioja at its best, however I favour 2009, tasted last week, it felt a tat more focused, balanced and pronounced. Tempranillo blend with 20% Garnacha, aged for 36 months in used US oak and 18 months in bottle. Medium intensity fragrant aroma of spices, cherries, rose petals, vanilla, smoky cold cuts, leather, black tea. Medium body, floral and spiced flavours, hint of meatiness, elaborate and pleasantly austere juicy acidity, polished powdery tannins, long vanilla like finish with oaky reminiscence.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Another great bottle of this. Still so youthful, incredible energy with that juicy fruit and vibrant acidity. Forces you to the next sip. Still big on the oak which is normally a problem for me but somehow just works here. 17.5/20.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Double decanted, 20 minutes of air in decanter then back into bottle. Consumed over four hours; note at 4 hours. Ruby. Earth, animal, rustic Rioja notes on the old world nose. Complex on the palate, roasted dark red fruits with grip. This is my favorite vintage of Ardanza, previously consumed at a Spanish restaurant in 2019 with my Venezuelan friend. (92-93+).
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
The bouquet screams Rioja, loudly! Red fruits and berries, dried orange juice, dill, loam, rust, sandalwood, and urea. A recent reviewer noted light, integrated American oak. Said reviewer's oak tolerance is higher than mine, much higher. Oak is everywhere, as it should be...and yet...damn that is a lot of oak! Oak's hallmarks here are dill and urea...lots and lots and lots of urea, as in a distance runner's sweaty gear, or worse yet, urine soaked denim. My oak tolerance, as you may have discerned, is very low...and decreasing steadily.
Oak aside, correct in all regards. Bright, piercing fruit, fruit acid, enhanced by biting oak, and gritty tannin. It paired very well with hard charcuterie, cheeses, and olives, which helped tame the oak.
This split could have held for several years, but there is no reason not to drink it now.
I am done with Rioja...too much urea. Very good QPR. 92-93.
This wine is in a great drinking phase right now. Brownish color, showing age. Beautiful vanilla nose. Typical rioja. Drinking beautifully after 30 minutes of air, melted tannins, a bit of acidity and mostly on tertiary notes. First time with this wine, reminds me a lot their greater cuvée 904. Matter fact, this is so good I probably could not tell the difference. 75th anniversary release and first year Rioja Alta introduced grenache from the La Pedriza vineyard.
Rioja: This is firing on all cylinders right now. Very characteristic bouquet of orange zests, herbs, cherries and notes of American oak. The palate is also fantastic with blood oranges or maybe kumquats and razor sharp acidity cutting through the sweet fruit with ease. Great harmony and length. Perfect to drink now. This has always been one of my favourite vintages of Ardanza and I think now is the time to drink it. 18/20.
Absolutely excellent Rioja, serious typicity. Medium garnet color. Aromas of cherry, dried leaves, cedar, smoke and chocolate. Silky and succulent, medium-light bodied. Still lively on the palate, with tart red fruit, cola, pepper, mature chalky tannins, and smoky-sweet dried fruit in the lingering finish. Glad I have more stashed away!
very nice mid-level Tempranillo from Rioja... delicious and a crowd pleaser, feels open now but I think last another 10-15 years of your heart desires age
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Old-fashioned nose of sarsaparilla and cherry milkshake. Smells delicious. Open and friendly. Excellent cherry tones. Quite approachable with just a bit of tannic sinew on the finish. Drinking well now, and subjectively better than the 2005.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
23 months after the prior: sweet vanillin oak still shows, but it is not too far out there or excessive, and it’s backed up by good acidity and a pleasant hint of green stemmy bitterness. Nicely integrated, and very enjoyable.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Day 1: Dill, raspberries, funk, minerals and wood. Love this wine. While some hate the dill quality I love it just like the funk you get from a good Washington State Syrah. Super complex wine. 93 points Day 2: Much softer wine and less intenese. I liked day 1 better. Mild dill, raspberries, dust, minerals and wood. Classic style and one of my favorite Spanish wines for the money. 92 points
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Medium purple red. Aged Rioja nose, medium intensity, plums, leather, smoke, earth and dill. Dry light earthy dill and berry flavours and a nice balanced finish.
5 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Dark garnet. Forward aromas of black fruit, fig skin, franjipani, tobacco, tar, and a hint of vanilla oak. Broad spread of dense extracted dark fruit on the palate with crackling tannins in a cleansing acid frame, a wonderful evolution to the long aromatic finish. Stunning integration of structure and elasticity. Excellent with guacamole and a machaca bowl from Blanco.
A blend of Tempranillo (80%) from 30-yo vines and Garnacha (20%) from La Pedriza vineyard planted at high altitude in La Rioja Baja. This is the first vintage that was made completely from fruit sourced from own vineyards (traditionally at least a part of Garnacha has been purchased). Fermented and macerated in stainless steel, aged in stainless steel tanks until March 2009. The Tempranillo wines were aged for 36 months in American oak barriques averaging 4 years old and the Garnacha wines were aged for 30 months in 2nd and 3rd use American oak barrels. Blended and bottled in March 2013. 13,5% alcohol, 1,8 g/l residual sugar, 6,1 g/l acidity and pH 3,56.
Deep, dark and only very slightly translucent ruby red color with a subtly evolved maroon hue. Open and rather sweet-toned but also slightly restrained nose with nuanced aromas of ripe figs and sweet black cherries, some pruney tones, a little bit of leather and meaty character, light oaky notes of vanilla and cedar, a lifted hint of VA and a touch of cloves. The wine is ripe and silky but also pretty dry and more medium-bodied rather than full-bodied on the palate. Intense flavors of sour cherries and tart lingonberries, some ferrous notes of blood, a little bit of tobacco, light sweet notes of black cherries and prunes, oaky hints of vanilla and cedar and a touch of bitter woody spice. The overall feel is enjoyably structured and sinewy, thanks to both very high acidity and very ample but also quite ripe tannins that bring nice firmness to the mouthfeel and slowly pile up on the gums. The finish is quite dry, moderately grippy and wonderfully long with quite complex flavors of tart red plums and crunchy cranberries, some sweet ripe figs and pruney notes, a little bit of leather, light oaky notes of vanilla and cedar, a slightly bitter hint of savory wood spice and a touch of jammy red fruit.
A very balanced, classically built and thoroughly textbook Ardanza. The overall feel is slightly drier and more structure-driven than in vintages 2004 and 2005, but contrasting to the dry and quite tightly-knit vintage 2007, this wine feels slightly softer and sweeter. Contrasting this bottle to the one I had a few years ago when the wine was just released (September 2017), I felt the vanilla nuances had integrated a little bit with the fruit, but the overall impression was still rather woody - however, that is something that can be expected of Ardanza. All in all, the wine shows terrific balance between the fruit, the structure, the oak and the overall intensity. Seeing how very little the wine had aged in 4 years, I expect it to continue to improve for many more years, even decades. Although the wine can be drunk just fine at the moment, I doubt it will show its best until a few decades from here. A very promising vintage by all accounts.
4 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
1/4, vg cork. #103,402. Medium/deep garnet core, pale garnet rim. Nose shows strawberry, touch of plum, vanilla, spice. some blood orange and leather with time in glass. Medium bodied, harmonious and composed, quite fleshy with strawberry fruit, vanilla, soft tannins, some light savoury/gamey notes, spice, lovely vibrant acids carrying a good length finish. Lovely, drinking really well.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Consistent with previous notes. Big flavours with balance and elegance. Grippy finish. Still lots of fruit to go with the tertiary notes. Drink up over the next three years.
Very nice, medium bodied rioja. Although the oak is quite present, I found it mostly worked with the red fruits and good acid. I'm going to hold a while to hope for more oak integration.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Dark garnet colour. Red fruit, strawberry, an intense dill note, coffee, cocoa, tobacco, spices, clove, and vanilla, with good, lively, medium-level acidity, fine tannin, and superb length. Balsamic finish. Medium-bodied and well-balanced. Very Burgundian. A beautiful Rioja! I preferred it to the Vina Bosconia 2007 I had the other night. Drink or hold.
6 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Quite a tight Rioja. It's got loads of fresh acidity and it's tempting to show some leather and spice in the future. I'd hold for a while but it is still pretty good to drink now.
Saturated, almost impenetrable dark red color; slight hint of wood polish on the nose, leather and leather dust some dark black fruit. On the palate it is lively, has medium weight, shows a touch of dusty tannins and leather dust plus acidity to keep it alive and give it good aging potential. For me this has the typical Ardanza characteristics and I do not quite see where some of the other tasters see a significant departure from the past.. I quite enjoyed the wine, have another 4 bottles to go and am looking forward to drinking the remainder over the next year or two.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Elegant and excellent QPR Rioja. 80% Tempranillo, 20% Garnacha. Beautiful garnet red. Limited bouquet. Dark berry/cherry with some earthy tones, rounded but present tannins. Garnacha taste profile definitively present. Medium mouthfeel. Ready for drinking and should hold for several more years. Drank without a decant which was fine; may have improved slightly over following hours. Nice wine to accompany a meal (roasted or grilled meat).
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
On PnP: As this is gaining age, the fruit seems to have mellowed out quite a bit, but the complexity hasn't necessarily picked up yet. This should last a long time, so I probably won't drink the next bottle for at least 2-3 years. 89 Day 2: Really quite nice, much less oak intruding on the fruit, supple wine. 91.
Pronounced and classic Rioja bouquet. This wine features more purple berries than red, and is quite open knit, with velour-like textures. Compelling weight, backed by luxurious gritty tannin. Medium plus acid holds all elements in great balance.
If reserva and gran reserva Rioja were to be classed as Burgundian or Bordeaux in style, this would heavily toward the latter. Pipe tobacco, worn leather, and blackcurrant elements in particular put the mind to Pauillac.
Excellent QPR!
5 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Red berries and fleshy cherry. Smoky tobacco, leather, vanilla. Good concentration, dense and chewy and plenty of tannin. Beginning to show signs of maturity but has a long life ahead. Long savoury finish. A lovely Ardanza.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Rather odd bottle. Initially on first opening it had virtually no nose and tasted very bland and closed. I considered decanting but didn't. Later in eve it began to open up a bit but was still rather odd. Had last 1/3 of bottle 24 hrs after when it was far more 'normal' but still rather sharp and acidic. Flawed bottle maybe?
I suggest that this has reached its own top form, although I would not rule out a slightly higher mark if it does continue to improve with further maturity. Could certainly be kept for a few years yet
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Day 2: Nicely balanced featuring raspberries, mild dill, subtle oak, earth and leather. Medium finish and nice acidity. Not as good as the last bottle. Estimated drinking window, now to 2026. 91 points Day 3: Similar to day 2. Just not rocking like the last bottle. 90-91 points Recommendation: I would hope these improve by holding a year or two but don't see these as really long term agers.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
A lovely wine. Ripe cherries, butter, leather and pepper on the nose. Palate displays the same flavour profile, with a big body. Still fresh and youthful but tannins are smooth and good acidity. Medium/big body, medium/long finish. Plenty of years left yet, no need to rush.
4 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Day 1: 93 pts. Butter, cedar notes and ripe red berries to the nose. Medium body with semi long finish. Beautiful Rioja and once again excellent PQR. Day 3 : Solid 93 pts.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Classic Rioja! The wine rides that intriguing line of purple flowers, tangy red and purple fruits, freshness, balanced by oxidativeness, umami, including cut tobacco, meat smokehouse, loam, and urea. All these else worked harmoniously, delivery satisfying range and depth, along with striking balance and structure. This multidimensional offering showed quite young, likely no less than seven to ten years from maturity...and it should hold for several years thereafter.
Rioja ranks far from a preference to this palate, but the best offerings command my respect. This is such a wine. 92-94.
From a 1.5L stored in offsite storage. Tannins almost entirely resolved, amazing the difference a year makes. Will try another mag in a month to see if its bottle variation or if this one is at its peak. Don't think this one will make it to 2045 as CT suggests.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Terrific value and yummy and juicy rioja, especially after an hour of decanting. Keeps getting only better since my initial tasting of this vintage in 2017.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Medium to deep ruby. Sour cherries and earth in the nose with a very shy vanilla touch, some dill and other dried herbs. Silky texture on the palate, medium bodied, with quite powerful, but cool and clean red fruit and some lovely blood orange especially on the finish. Ripe tannins give the wine a nice bite and the acidity is absolutely beautiful, providing balance, tension and freshness. Ends long with a "nutty" touch and has very good grip.This is an outstanding vintage of Ardanza in my opinion which is drinking very well right now (with some air) and should evolve over at least a decade. 17.5/20
6 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Single blind tasting Garnet with bricking Aromatics medium +. Well integrated oak with dill and coconut. Ripe black fruits Palate medium +. Tannin medium, fine and on the upper palate. Acidity medium. Cherry and plums Finish has medium + length and appears perfectly balanced Seems to be drinking great now. Perhaps aging will bring out some secondary notes, but it's tough to wait on the next bottle.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Medium ruby with mild bricking Medium plus beautiful aromas - sweet/ sour cherries with strong American oak coconut/ dill features Medium body with palate sweet/ sour cherry and raspberry Again heavy American oak influence but beautifully integrated with the soft fruit Medium plus acidity and medium tannins, both felt primarily on the tongue with a medium finish Every year this wine delivers way past its pricepoint - I love this stuff! Will probably last for years but I really dont see any reason to do so since its drinking so well now
5 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Really earthy upon opening. Took a bit to blow off, but was pretty nice once it did. Light red fruit (raspberry and tart cherry) with some sweet tobacco and earth. Burst of acid near the end and slightly chalky tannins.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
I think Rioja is my favorite comfort varietal. Last bottle of the 2008 but have a few 2009. This wine and producer is always so solid. Great balance, nice finish. On the palate blackberry, oak, leather, smoke, touch of pepper.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
La Rioja Alta continues to hit QPR out of the park with the '08. Medium ruby in the glass with a medium rim and no bricking. A bit of a tobacco and oak bomb on the nose. Lovely raspberry and tobacco on the palate. Smooth and delicious. Should please the novice and snob alike.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Characteristic rusty red. Quite a contained, reserved aroma but a delicious earthy, leathery taste with plenty of dark red berries. I’ll see how the next three bottles age over the next years with anticipation
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Excellent Rioja from a great producer at a nice 11 years of age. Dusty cherry, aged leather, oak , blackberry, earthy. Great balance and finish. This Rioja never disappoints.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
It is a modern style with red fruit and lively vibrant cherry. Some oak, tobacco and sourness. There is also some tartness in the finish that pulls it down. Overall a good wine but not spectacular.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Fresh and lively, with plenty of red fruit, a hint of tartness, and some mineral notes. Elegant and slightly austere. Still in the primary phase, but very enjoyable.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Great wine. I love the 2008, my wife prefers the 2009. Drank from a 1.5L that was stored at room temp for a year. Really hit the mark. Glad I have a stockpile of this in the wine fridge!
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Tawny colour which is normal for an 11 year old wine. Intense nose of dried fruits and dried flowers paired with some forest floor scents. On the palate the balance is amazing . If paired with food is an absolute pleasure. The aftertaste is long.Amazing!
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Spanish wines tasting (at my home): pale ruby medium aromas intensity of dry red cherries, red cranberries, red sour plums, raspberries, earth, forest floor; developing; dry, high acidity, med tannins, med abv, med body; med(+) flavours intensity consistent with the aromas; sound complexity; lingering finish; can drink now - suitable for further aging;
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
First time for a year or so and there are definite signs of improvement in this wine, the fruit is more clearly defined and the balance seems better. Good value choice now drinking well
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
93 points for this wonderful Rioja from a great producer. A Rioja I drink frequently I gave it a higher rating this time as it seems to be within its ideal drinking window at 11 years old but will still be excellent for years to come. Everything well integrated and complimentary. In my Rioja drinking experience this Rioja offers the best quality for the price."
4 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
The 'evolution' the company claims to be following seems to be towards a wine that the rest of the world tried and mostly discarded and that I'd hoped we were seeing the back of.
Very polished and glossy, it has badly integrated alcohol, and much darker (as opposed to red) fruit profile, and at this early stage of it's life doesn't really show off the oak regimen much (it is meant to be Rioja, and high quality stuff, after all).
We assumed the acidity might match food, specifically lamb, because Rioja was made for roast lamb. It didn't.
My earlier criticisms of this wine still stand. For the company to compare it to the 2001 is ludicrous in my opinion. It's been clear since the 2001 vintage that there has been a slow-evolution in style of Ardanza, but the earlier changes were liveable, and still added to the whole. If this represents the end destination of the process, then I can only agree with other fans of LRA such as Harley1199 and MacauJames that it isn't a wine I recognise (it is more reminiscent of full bodied Ribeiro del Duero), and that the Alberdi 2010 is significantly superior.
I lament having bought so many, and will be more circumspect with future Ardanza purchases, as its no longer a wine I recognise.
2008 La Rioja Alta Rioja Viña Ardanza Reserva $30. Dark garnet, brick edges; plum, peppery, wood (manzanita) nose; opens with air; mid-body; balanced; ripe; good fruit and style; long fruity finish. w/short ribs.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Mature Rioja tasting: deep garnet pronounced secondary & tertiary aromas of dry ripe cherries, plums, earthy strawberries, leather, toasted oak-vanilla, fine pepper spice, mint & eucalyptus. still developing. drhy, high acidity, med fine silky coated tannins, med abv, med body, med+ flavours intensity of dry ripe black cherries, dark plums, toasted oak, leather, black tea, mint, licorice, earth, fine spices, long finish; can drink now - suitable for further ageing. outstanding wine!
11 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Surprinagly sharp and fresh. Will develop more. However, even now it’s a great wine to drink.
Dark berry and sherry flavours with some acidity that i found unusual for a 11 year old Rioja. Beautiful ruby red and developed nicely over the 2 hour dinner we had it.
A bargain and a superb wine
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
deep garnet pronounced secondary & tertiary aromas of dry ripe cherries, plums, earthy strawberries, leather, toasted oak-vanilla, fine pepper spice, mint & eucalyptus. still developing. drhy, high acidity, med fine silky coated tannins, med abv, med body, med+ flavours intensity of dry ripe black cherries, dark plums, toasted oak, leather, black tea, mint, licorice, earth, fine spices, long finish; can drink now - suitable for further ageing. outstanding wine!
5 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
I have a bunch of 2009 magnums so I picked this up to see what the house style was and what I might expect. Although I'm sure there are differences of the vintage, I got a sense: big vanilla and coconut flavour of oak, soft tannins with a mid fruit and balanced acidity profile. Not as perfumed or as nuanced as the 2005 Vina Tondonia Reserve I've been drinking of late. A much less subtle wine. Very delicious, but for me the oaky vanilla is a bit too over present. I'm definitely going to lay off my clutch for a year or so at least and plan to have them age for quite a while longer. There seems to be a lot of vibrancy that can sustain many years in the cellar and may well reward it.
4 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Pretty barrel notes vanilla bean, toast, pickle mad coconut followed by red fruits, black tea and tobacco leaf with hidden acids that keep this balanced.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
La Rioja Alta Ardanza 2008: 89 points Very drinkable wine with a fairly concentrated nose with dominated by blackcurrant, strawberry, and cherry. Some herbal notes here and a little bit of vanilla. Full body wine with medium complexity, good length, and balance although there is a slight bitterness in the aftertaste. Overall, a quality wine representing good value for money.
La Rioja Alta 904 2005: 92 points A high-quality wine with a medium concentrated nose with predominantly blackcurrant and cherry, but also some liquorice and vanilla. A big step up from the Ardanza, more balanced, less noticeable alcohol and more developed tannins. It is also more complex, layered and has medium-plus length. A delicious high-quality wine that represents excellent value for money.
La Rioja Alta 890 2004: 93 points Undoubtedly a high-quality wine that has all the dark fruit of the 904 and is even more balanced and elegant. Higher complexity and length too but surprisingly not as much herbal and tertiary aromas as I was expecting. Maybe this is still too young? High-quality wine, no doubt, which is correctly priced but does not represent the same value for money as the 904.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Sweet, vanilla-infused nose. Almost creamy. Very smooth in the mouth. Medium-bodied. Good length, slightly grippy finish. Not particularly complex, but pleasant enough to drink. A good, four-square Rioja. Nothing to write home about, but perfectly pleasant to drink now and for quite some time, I suspect.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Tasted twice. I see the enthusiastic reviews but I find this to be a mid-range old school rioja. Fine beside the fire. Ready to go and not for the long haul.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
La Rioja Tasting at Haskell's, Minnetonka (Haskells, Minnetonka): Leather, mineral, spice, wood and cherry. Quite balanced and showing well again tonight. This wine is hitting its peak. While aging is an option it is drinking great right now. Drink now to 2020.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Consistently excellent. Will it really last until 2045? Can I possibly keep my last bottle for another few years and will I remember enough to judge whether it has improved?
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Bu lors du voyage en Espagne. Saveurs de fruits rouges et la mûre surette. Bel accompagnement de bois et de cuir. C’est très fin et bien fait. Une belle bouteille. Ne pas plus attendre!!
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Intense coconut/wood nose, but it works. The fruit still has a freshness, somehow along with salty age, juicy and tart into the finish where tannins remain healthy. Nice intensity across dimensions, but things are in a nice balance. Very enjoyable, and I suspect many good drinking years ahead.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Aromatic, roasted nut, buttered toast, sandalwood, dill, cherry and rhubarb nose. Vibrant and alive palate with excellent flavour replays and polished tannins. Long complex, toast and dill finish. 5/5
5 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Decanted this for about 2.5 hours before drinking with a steak.
This is a very nice wine. On the nose dark but slightly sweet fruit, a hint of liquorice. On the palate it's very smooth indeed - full of fruit and a nice acidity to balance it; some light tannins. A medium length finish. Perhaps slightly easier drinking and not quite as "chewy" as I expected.
Like others here I shall be stocking up on this as a "house Rioja" for the next few months.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Ruby Red...firm and balanced...almost like a cross between a Napa Cab and a nice Brunello. This review is after a pop and pour so we shall see how it goes with the balance tomorrow.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Beau vin avec beaucoup de finesse. Nez fruité, en bouche, moyennement corsé, bien équilibré. Les tanins sont soyeux. Prêt à boire,mais capable de tenir encore plusieurs années.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
I keep going through my stash (and keep procuring more bottles), this is that good. My best everyday Rioja so far. Excellent balance of acidity, restrained fruit, and some good energy. Great value.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
A hue of medium purple, and I can smell the vanilla from American Oak before in get my nose to the glass. Nice dried strawberry and cinnamon aromas as i dive in. A full bodied juice with silky tannins and a nice balance with the acidity. Savory semi-sweet cherry, some leather, spice and a super long finish. Just what I’ve been looking for. 95
6 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Quite good, nice complexity from some bottle age. I think an ever so slight hint of Brett that added some character. Olives and cherry on the nose. Quite enjoyable.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Decanted for an hour. Cigar box complexity, wild cherry, wet earth and a little menthol. Long and gushing, with strut and balance. The fruit is starting to head in the secondary direction, but remains primary. The tannin and acidity are integrated. Impeccable with spicy chicken fajitas - the suggestive fruit prevails. Drink 2019 - 2034.
7 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
This is great quality for the cost. Balanced with ripe red fruit and good acidity. Medium length finish. In top form now. I wouldn’t expect this to improve further.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Cherry and raspberry fruit, with cinnamon and vanilla, this is sweet fruited, notes of milk Chocolate in complex finish. You know I really loved the 05& 01 and thought 08 would be a lesser wine but now I'm not sure. Perhaps less serious but so lovely.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
tasted blind. dark violet color. Nose black cherry with hint of vanilla. Palate fresh cherries with some dusky fruits; nicely rich/slightly velvety texture, tannic. A bit bigger than I expected but drinking well now. 91 pts
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Well it seems I could only resist this wine for about 4 months and not the year I suggested in my last review. Warm sweet red fruit and that familiar vanilla background. I don’t think this will become an absolute cracker of a wine but it is definitely a good one
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
I only aerated this 90 mins and it was a lean 88. It started to come together as an 89/90 at the end of a meal after about 3hrs aeration. This is not the sure value like the 2005. Has aromas of blackberries, strawberries, developing vanilla hints. Its medium bodied a bit four square yet smooth undeveloped red and black fruits palate has some vanilla, developing depth. Ends mediumish tapering and zingy. 13.5%. I am a bit perplexed with this wine and would welcome any comments.
Very enjoyable as always. Consistent with prior notes. Nose showing some oak, Extremely youthful, red fruited, soft tannins. This time the oak in the palate seemed to poke through more than I remember, perhaps because I recently had the ‘05 from magnum. I will hold remaining bottles for 1-2 more years.
To celebrate July 4, we popped the cork on this Rioja! It was spectacular from the first pour. On the nose there were sweet cherries and black currants. The flavor profile was cherries with a hint of black pepper, coffee, and cinnamon. The finish was glorious!
4 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
P: Med body; Rndish entry with NICE, almost swtish frt met by some astringent pucker which PRETTY much loses its bite by the LONG, OCCASIONALLY very VERY slightly bitterish finish with note of swtness to the remaining very, VERY fine tannins. For now & making its 15th, + I can still see at least the POSS of improvement for the next yr or so. My VG+/EXC-, probably shading more toward the higher. 95 pts Decanter [although it was 90 later on -- in their World Wine awards], 94 ea Suckling & Jamie Goode, 93 ea WA, Guia Penin, & Wine-Pages.com, 90 WS, & 17.5/20 Jancis Robinson. [VERY atypically, this vendor's $29.95 is one of the LEAST competitive prices in a MASSIVE wine-searcher field.]
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Color is brownish red ruby with some signs of age. Aroma has a lot of oak and cherry- mouthwatering. Nose has tobacco, dried cherry, and herbs. Mouth is dried cherry, tomato, and earthiness. Medium body and acidity and tannin gives exceptional balance. Delicious.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Excellent Rioja even though it’s still young and primary. Sweet dried red cherry, spice, white pepper, anise. This was a restaurant pop and pour and will show better with time and decanting but I think this had excellent aging potential and is a good value to boot. 13.5% abv.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Un Rioja comme je les aime, fin et délicat. En son cœur, on y goûte des fruits rouges et de la réglisse, qui sont portés par une belle acidité. On y trouve également quelques saveurs d'épices et de fleurs qui perdurent dans une belle finale assez longue. Tout en équilibre, ce vin est aucunement lourd et se boit tout seul!
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Impressive showing. Lots of chocolate, leather, and spice. Not sure I agree this is at the beginning of its drinking window. I think it is more likely in the middle of its window with a few more good years before the fruit starts to fade. For now, drinking very nicely.
4 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Day 1: This wine is outstanding! Slow ox for 2 hours. Nice fruit featuring Bing cherries and blueberries. Oak is present but settle down after an initial taste. Classic Rioja with leather, minerals and spices. On the finish picks up some mint elements. This is a super complex effort with a medium to long finish. I see this wine aging well for a decade. One of the better QPRs of the year. 93-95. Day 2: Interesting on this wine. While I thought it might improve the opposite happened. Wine lacked the fruit and complexity of day 1. If I were to rate it on day two 87 points would have been given.
Recommendation: This is why I experiment over 3 days. This wine is a day 1 pop and pour and see the evolution over the night. I would actually consume these within 3 years for maximum enjoyment.
6 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
PnP. A bit thin. Quite simple, doesn’t have the complexity of its big brother 904 Gran Reserva. Lacking balance with rather high acidity and reticent fruit. Went well with Spanish tapas and grilled ribeye. Decent value considering price. Served from a half bottle.
Ruby coloured with a paler, brick red rim. Aromas of black fruit, oak and tobacco. On the palate, deep, juicy dark fruit flavours of blackberry and raspberry. Very well integrated oak, tobacco and liquorice with a long smooth smoky finish. Structured, but unobtrusive tannins.
5 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
From memory : This wine ( the minor brother of Reserva and Gran Reserva bottling of this estate)beats the minor brother of LdH, the Viña Bosconia by lengths in terms of elegance and complexity. Especially the 2008 vintage is a really well made wine..Delicious!
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
There's nothing particularly offensive about it, it just seems to lack both concentration and, more importantly, character when compared to all of the previous several vintages. And I personally think this is the key - 2001, 04 and 05 was a run of excellent vintages. Indeed, they had followed hot on the heels of '94 and '95. It also lacks all of the formers' 'sophistication' (each in differing but equally enjoyable ways). Even the 2007 (far from a stellar vintage, and certainly not up to the standards of the aforementioned 5) knocks it into a cocked hat for interest. I'm worried that Ardanza is now going to be produced every year (I suspect only '06 will be missing between '04 and '11), and therefore it's quality will be subsumed by economic necessity.
To put it into perspective, we followed it with a simple CVNE crianza, which was comfortably it's equal (in fact, probably slightly denser if anything). Ardanza is normally taking on Gran Reservas. I'm putting it down to vintage, and looking forward to what the '09 might bring.
13.5% ABV; 1.8 g/l R.S., 6.1 g/l T.A., & 3.56 pH; 80% Tempranillo (aged in 4-year-old AM oak for 36 mos) and 20% Grenache (aged in 2- to 3-year-old AM oak for 30 mos).
N: ATTRACTIVE smoke with notes of flowers & earth? Rest tough to parse.
P: Med body; RNDISH entry with NICE frt met by some puckerish astringency which quite resolves by the LONG, very, VERY slightly bitter finish with a tangy/swtness to the minimal very, VERY fine tannins. 13.5% ABV; My EXC-. 95 pts Decanter [although it was 90 later on -- in their World Wine awards], 94 ea Suckling & Jamie Goode, 93 ea WA, Guia Penin, & Wine-Pages.com, 90 WS, & 17.5/20 Jancis Robinson. [I BELIEVE this vendor still has some @ $29.95.]
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Very nice wine; red cherries and wood (notably less dill/vanilla as their Vina Alberdi). High acidity, needs food right now. I would have no problem forgetting this for 5 years or so in a far corner of my cellar and wait for it to mellow out.
4 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
The Run-DMC of Spanish wine. The godfathers of Rioja. The liquid epitomes of Tempranillo and Garnacha. La Rioja Alta truly stands proud of its tradition and old school spirit to this day. It was founded in 1890 by five families, including Aranas, Ardanzas and the Alberdis (names now immortalised as Reservas). Today, the winery has a whooping 700ha of vineyards to show for. Besides the 904 Gran Reserva, the Ardanza definitely holds classic trademark quality. Big blueberry-vanilla pie on the nose with bits of herbs sneaking in. Medium-bodied and silky soft with ultra-rioe tannins. Long butterscotch finish. Coming from a very good, ripe year, this is a steal for €25 and even though I didn't try newer vintages yet, I have strong faith in the consistency of these formidable demi-gods.
6 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Big vanilla and blueberry nose, very tannic at first, get cedar and oak flavors, big mouthfeel, long finish, big oak influence, get some fruit but hard to discern fruit flavors, some red fruit, maybe red cherry, reminds me a little of scotch (which I like). Nice, if not out of balance (I don't have a ton of experience with Rioja), get red fruits, red cherry. Drank from plastic cup.
No notes taken at the time: medium body, earthy rioja styled with tradition in mind. No hurry at all on this, lots of life left and the promise of the rewards of age to come.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
This is my kind of wine, old world with a nod to the new. Huge acidity in close proximity to bright cherry (and many other) fruits. Medium body, but feels fuller if you like it. Soft, well resolved tannins. Did not pair well with tonight's beans and rice dish, maybe not too surprising!
To me, this is one of the great (miraculous) wines of the world but in an era of big California Cabernet it seems mostly ignored and neglected. Great complexity here with a long finish. What's not to like?
This bottle is produced by a very serious Rioja producer, their mid level product I believe. If you really didn't like it I suggest trying it again later in a different setting ... maybe with someone who LOVES it!
6 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
From a half bottle Nice dark cherry fruit and vanilla aromas. High acidity and rather sleek and elegant. Smoke and licorice notes paired with good fruit. Still rather tannic so this should hold well. Overall very good balance. Much better than expected but let’s be sanguine about the score, a 91-92 wine.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
P n p, and singing after just 15 minutes opened. I don t know it there is a case of bottle variability here but I can t see why the low scores. This bottle; if it’s not going to wow you, it is very good. For the 30 usd price paid I consider it does a very competent job and goes very well with light meat dishes or even poultry. I m not going to add more descriptors than the ones already reckoned here by other reviewers which are accurate, but I do make the case for raising the expectations from it. It is a good rioja, and by any means, a good buy. Of course I would buy it again if I can find it
Spanish Reds (Vintage Wines Ltd., San Diego, CA): 13.5% ABV; 1.8 g/l R.S., 6.1 g/l T.A., & 3.56 pH; 80% Tempranillo (aged in 4-year-old AM oak for 36 mos) and 20% Grenache (aged in 2- to 3-year-old AM oak for 30 mos).
N: Very slightly closed; Smoke, earth, with undertones of pomegranates? More to give?
P: Med, poss LM, body; NICE frt/oak met by some puckerish astringency which slowly morphs into a LONG, tangy finish with a bitSWTNESS to the very, VERY fine, somewhat spicy tannins. For now & POSS making its 15th, + MIGHT improve through '18. My VG+/EXC-. 95 pts Decanter [although it was 90 later on -- in their World Wine awards], 94 ea Suckling & Jamie Goode, 93 ea WA, Guia Penin, & Wine-Pages.com, 90 WS, & 17.5/20 Jancis Robinson. [VERY atypically, this vendor's $29.95 is one of the LEAST competitive prices in a MASSIVE wine-searcher field.]
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
This punches way above it's weight. The bouquet starts off shy before revealing black fruit, meat, fancy oak, walnut shell, and hints of balsam and spices. The palate is compact and layered, with serious structure, balance, and volume. Bright acidity and a creamy texture add depth to the tart cherry and orange citrus flavors. Finishes long and savory. A beautiful wine.
8 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Decanter Magazine was very positive about this wine, giving it 95 points.
Selections of their tasters’ comments:
Pedro Balleteros Torres: “A joyful fruit expression and serious depth. In the mouth it is amazingly complex, and unique. A benchmark Rioja blend.”
Sarah Jane Evans “A rich, sweet and savory reserve style with a load of red cherries and a strong Garnacha influence’
Pierre Mansour ‘A superb savory nose of leather.. a perfect combination of mellowness versus vigour’
I gave the wine a two-hour decant and it was pleasing but not terribly remarkable. Coming back to it the next day, however, it had notably evolved and I began to see what had excited the Decanter guys so much. It is a good wine. I think that given another few years this impressiveness will be much more obvious. For right now, it’s clearly not a good restaurant wine (how would you have time to let it breathe?) and it is a good home wine with a long decant. But on the whole it is one to cellar for a while longer; and indeed Decanter suggests drinking it 2017-2024 so it is just at the start of its drinking window (though I think it will easily last to 2035 or so).
My bottle cost 18 euros in March 2018; that’s very good QPR.
The wine was medium garnet in colour and offered floral notes, red fruit, intense strawberry, intense blackberry, coffee, cocoa, leather, tobacco, spices, cinnamon, vanilla, clove and balsamic notes on the nose and palate, with good acidity, smooth, mostly resolved tannin and superb length of the balsamic finish. This beautiful, medium-bodied Rioja was balsamic, balanced and very smooth. Its smooth texture truly stood out. Lovely. Good value.
This wine has taken something of a bashing in recent tasting notes, and I'm afraid at the moment I can't help but agree with some (if not all) of the criticisms.
Principally, for me, after recently having both the 2004 and '05, is that that this wine seems a little too 'polished', like it's had the edges knocked off it. The acid isn't particularly noticeable, the tannins are quite rounded, theres some fruit and some other stuff going on that makes it all quite pleasant.
But it doesn't make it particularly interesting. Perhaps this will garner more widespread (read larger market-share) appeal, but I'm really hoping that this isn't to be the new signature style moving forward for Ardanza, but a quirk of vintage, as for me it's character is being lost into a very anonymous, international style wine.
Again, a caveat, in that Ardanza usually takes a good decade+ from vintage to really start coming round and showing it's true self (I have been equally miserly with scores of other vintages in their youth). I'm hoping for the best, but can't help but have that nagging feeling about this one..
7 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Generous nose of black cherries, plums, coffee, maybe a little gluey. Deep penetrating fruit on the palate with a nice lashing of acid and smooth integrated tannins. A bit of a struggle between an emergent clarity and freshness and a some overweightness. Maybe time will tell how that comes out. Right now it is delicious with Nico's Tacos. 50 + 16 + 16 + 7 = 89. [Hard for me to know how much I am influenced by the discussion on Westopherguy's note just before mine.]
From time to time, I see the notes of others here, and wonder, “What am I missing?” Were my taste buds off? Was the bottle off? Were my expectations simply too high? Not sure, in this case, but regardless, I find it difficult to see what the fuss is about. If I’d paid, say, $25 for this wine? I’d probably find it more impressive. Considering it was $40, I expected more breadth and depth. What I found was a nose that was monotone, just nondescript fruit, and a palate that was nearly as unidimensional. It was pleasant enough — this is not by any means a “bad” wine. It was a really nice accompaniment to a dinner of Arroz con Pollo; a great pairing, where the wine made the food much more enjoyable. But on its own, and for this price, I would not pick the Ardanza again.
That being said, I think this is one where I would encourage the reader to try it, and make your own assessment; there’s just too much likelihood that my experience was a one-off given the reactions of others.
Medium to full body, mature ruby color. Intense plum and vanilla aroma on first attack, continues with leather and cedar wood after aeration and again come back to impressive fruits. Dominant plum with delicate earthy notes palate and lingering juicy finish. Rich and complex but fresh and silky, well balanced, lovely berries acidity and completely integrated tannins. Food friendly, best match is meat dishes, tasted with stewed in vegetables veal. Open at least two hours ahead. Serve 18º - 22º. Drink now and next decade.
PnP. Again problem with cork breaking off disintegrating and the last 1/3 having to be pushed into the bottle. Poured a couple of glasses then let it air for 2 hrs. Consistent with previous notes maybe a hair off and the cork was irksome with repetition. Deep complex and fresh.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Redfruit and a hint of pluminess but somewhat over dominated by the sweet vanilla of American Oak. I may leave this for a year or two to see if this resolves itself.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Baratillo, Sevilla. Requires air to open, would be good to decant. More classical than 2007 Ardanza. On the nose plum, ethereal and earthy, great. On the palate fresh and still a bit tart in its youth, long finish. Beginning drinking window, good aging potential (2030+), 91 to 93 points.
5 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Appearance: deep garnet Nose: savoury, a little leathery, some raisin, touch of cedar Palate: medium acidity; tannins now very soft; fruit - plums, some spice: pepper, something more aromatic; very good length
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
PnD after a huge struggle with the cork. Consistent with previous notes. Liked it just a touch more tonight. Love the depth complexity and freshness. It is all about the balance. Pound for pound dollar for dollar one of the great wines of the world.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Sehr „junge“ Farbe, helles und brillantes Rubinrot. Kirsche und Rosenblätter, wie auch ein deutlicher Eukalyptus-Ton in der Nase. Am Gaumen eher auf der säurebetonten Seite aber diese bringt eine tolle Frische in den Wein. Rotbeerig, forsche Tannine. Für den vollen Genuss braucht das noch Zeit würde ich sagen aber kann ohne weiteres bereits getrunken werden.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Pnp. This was interesting and different from a previous vintage I tried a few years back. It has a very velvety mouthfeel with flavors of oak and hints of caramel. Color has some brownish tint to it, as you would expect from an older wine. No sediments.
Overall, it’s an enjoyable wine but I am on the fence of whether I would buy again. Got this at a good price though ... just under $25. So, qpr is def there.
Balance and poise looking to still have potential for further improvement I hope. Enough of the region’s characteristics to allow for easy identification as Rioja. Quite soft dark red fruits a hint of sweet vanilla from the oak. Lovely wine.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Dark ruby. Creamy vanilla on the nose. Same with the taste and mouth feel, but the important thing about this wine is: Beautiful balance and acid sufficient to stand up to the sweet oak. Luscious, generous, rich, with just enough savory aspect and a bare hint of astringency. Very enjoyable over four nights — and we purchased more.
PnP let air for 1hr. Amazing aroma from the moment the cork is popped. Consistent with previous notes. Great complexity richness and elegance. Seems to be none of bottle variation of the 2004 vintage.
Taste Wines from Spain (San Diego Wine Co.): 13.5% ABV; 1.8 g/l R.S., 6.1 g/l T.A., & 3.56 pH; 80% Tempranillo (aged in 4-year-old AM oak for 36 mos) and 20% Grenache (aged in 2- to 3-year-old AM oak for 30 mos).
N: Almost creamy vanilla with berries & earth
P: LM, poss Med, body; NICE, almost swtish frt NICELY counterbalanced by tangy acidity which slowly, fairly seamlessly morphs into a very LONG, tangy/swt finish with notes of spice & occasional very, VERY fine tannins. SUPERB for now & very likely 5 or 6 yrs more. My VG+/EXC-; 95 pts Decanter [although it was 90 later on -- in their World Wine awards], 94 ea Suckling & Jamie Goode, 93 ea WA, Guia Penin, & Wine-Pages.com, 90 WS, & 17.5/20 Jancis Robinson. [Quite atypically, this vendor's $28.99 is in the bottom quartile of a MASSIVE wine-searcher field.]
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Relatively young rioja that is consistently good across vintages. Terrific acidity and red-berry juiciness. Pairs really well with many dishes, including pizza and tacos.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Spanish Reds (Vintage Wines Ltd., San Diego, CA): 13.5% ABV; 1.8 g/l R.S., 6.1 g/l T.A., & 3.56 pH; 80% Tempranillo (aged in 4-year-old AM oak for 36 mos) and 20% Grenache (aged in 2- to 3-year-old AM oak for 30 mos).
N: Slightly closed; smoke, some earth
P: LM, poss Med, body; NICE frt met by some tangy, VERY slightly tannic astringency which slowly, fairly seamlessly morphs into a LONG, tangy finish with an OCCASIONAL touch of bitterness. For now & another 4 or 5, + might still improve for a bit. My VG+, poss EXC- with some more age. 95 pts Decanter [although it was 90 later on -- in their World Wine awards], 94 ea Suckling & Jamie Goode, 93 ea WA, Guia Penin, & Wine-Pages.com, 90 WS, & 17.5/20 Jancis Robinson. [VERY atypically, this vendor's $29.95 is one of the LEAST competitive prices in a MASSIVE wine-searcher field.]
Dark garnet; blackberry, natal plum, wood (American oak?) nose; mid-body; balanced; good fruit; softening tannins; long flavorful almost sweet finish. w/tri tip
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Deep ruby color. Nose of tart red berries, dry spice, tobacco leaf, and a touch of sour cream. Medium bodied on the palate with great presence and length.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Absolutely fresh, red fruits, spiced finish, well balanced, integrated alcohol. Agree with wine strategies that the fruit is still quite primary, especially compared to the grand riserva. Still, drinks so well, must buy more!
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Off the list at Joe's Seafood, Las Vegas. The first bottle was corked, this, the replacement, was a PnP. Clearly a well-grown wine, but comes across a bit tight and a little too polished just now, offering up its pretty fruits, but less of a sense of place just now. Fast forward five years (i.e. HOLD), and I think this will bring a full offering of fruit and place - the other elements are certainly there to see this evolve quite positively over the coming 5-8 years; likely to continue drinking beyond that if your cellar is cool enough. Med>full-bodied, good acid lift, fine tannins, and mostly red fruited with just a touch of black fruit and dried herbs/dust. If I had any, I'd aerate to decanter for 2-3 hours or more) to let this run a little, it's got a good fill of quality material for an under $30 bottle ($100 on the list, sigh). recommended
Very nice. A bit tight and tannic upon opening with some wood apparent, but this improved substantially after a day. Nice structure with good acidic balance and prominent notes of cherry, tobacco, and black pepper. Medium length finish.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Hard pressed to find a better wine at this price point. PnP. Ripe and calm nose, red fruits + saline + soy sauce, quite focused. On the palate, red fruits with a bit of spiciness kicking-in. Light on its feet but with substance and roundness. Acidity well in check (always my worry w Riojas). Finish could be longer.
5 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
PnD let air for 90mins. Dark sanguine purple alimony saturated with garnet to clear rim. Ripe and fresh in the nose with cherry leather cocoa strawberry tobacco sage anise and raspberry. Medium weight with light black tea tannins. A bit light on the palate with tons of freshness and complex with flavours that echo the nose lingering earthy raspberry finish. What a nose! Getting some more.
4 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Red colour just a little fading at rim, looks much younger than nearly 10 year old wine The nose is so fresh and vibrant, raspberries, floral, violets Powdery tannins quite present and then the most amazing crunchy fruit Oak beginning to integrate nicely. Long. Amazing freshness, fruit quite different to other vintages of this wine, has a raspberry/ floral quality like Northern Rhone rather than ripe strawberry trad. rioja. Can't wait to see how it ages.
P: LM, poss Med, body; Almost swtish frt met by just a bit of astringent pucker which pretty much extends through the LONG, very slightly faint, spicy/tangy finish. MIGHT still improve for a yr or 2. 95 pts Decanter [although it was 90 later on -- in their World Wine awards], 94 ea Suckling & Jamie Goode, 93 ea WA, Guia Penin, & Wine-Pages.com, and 90 WS. [VERY atypically, this vendor's $29.95 is one of the LEAST competitive prices in a MASSIVE wine-searcher field.]
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
I have to agree with Harley that the style seems to be changing for the worse. I decanted for 2 hours but had a small glass straight out of the bottle, and at first there was so much oak it was overpowering (and I usually like oaky Rioja). The aroma and flavour of dill was definitely a bit much. After decanting it smoothed off a bit, and I did enjoy the wine, but not as much as previous vintages (2001 probably being my favourite). I’ve got 12 bottles in bond so want to believe it will improve in time but I’m not convinced at this point. Not saying it’s a bad wine, but if there was one winery I wanted to stay traditional it was LRA, and this is definitely a step towards the modern side.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
XVIII Salón de los Mejores Vinos de España -Peñín; 10/23/2017-10/24/2017 (IFEMA - Madrid): In my view the change of guard continues. I mean dense wines, chocolate and ready to enjoy immediately. Bottles for American restaurants before an amateur's cave. Evolving without looking back. A pity. And by the way, it is also a shame or a disgraceful, according to what you see, that you could not taste 890 or 904 visiting LRA stand.
A mis ojos sigue el cambio de guardia. Me refiero a vinos más densos, achocolatados y listos para disfrutar de inmediato. Botellas de restaurante norteamericano antes que de la bodega de un aficionado. Evolucionar sin mirar atrás. Una pena. Y por cierto, también es una lástima o una vergüenza, según se mire, que no se pudiesen catar ni el 890 ni el 904.
Dark opaque violet. Expressive nose, vanilla and dark fruits. Palate surprisingly balanced to me based on my expectations from nose. Dark fruits, brambly, but light on its feet. Some spice. Some brooding depth. 90 pts for now, would have wished for some less vanilla/oak presence but wonder if that would subside with time.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Just great. Interesting mulchy nose. Plenty of sour cherry fruit with smoke, wood, tobacco and refreshing acidity. All very well organized. Still some softened tannin - it will keep longer but awfully good now.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
A blend of Tempranillo (80%) and Garnacha (20%). The first vintage made completely from fruit sourced from own vineyards (traditionally at least a part of Garnacha has been purchased). Aged for 30 months (Garnacha) to 36 months (Tempranillo) in mainly used American oak barrels. Bottled in 2013 and released only recently.
Youthful, luminous and very deep black cherry color. Rather sweet, concentrated and ripe nose with a powerful attack of vanilla, followed by rich aromas of maraschino cherry, ripe boysenberries, some plum marmalade, a little bit of savory oak spice and a faintest hint of oxidative, pruney fruit from the long barrel aging. The wine is full-bodied, concentrated and rather textural on the palate with rich, complex and still quite youthful flavors of dark cherries, some sweet vanilla oak, a little bit of boysenberries, light woody bitterness, a hint of sweet - almost pruney - plum-driven dark fruit and a touch of sour plums. The wine shows terrific balance between intensity and sophistication, and between sweetness and savory structural feel. Overall the wine is pretty structured, thanks to pretty high acidity and medium tannins that show very nice, firm grip. The mouthfeel is very smooth and suave, rounded by long barrel age and the polishing touch of vanilla oak. The finish is long, lively and rather powerful with vibrant flavors of sour cherries, succulent plums, some bitter spices and peppery wood character, a little bit of vanilla oak, a hint of crowberry and a touch of strawberry jam. The already high acidity cuts through nicely towards the end of the aftertaste.
A very impressive and classic Ardanza that seems to show a bit more savory characteristics and acid cut than usual, but also quite a bit of ripe fruit characteristic of this great vintage. The wine feels still pretty primary (for one at 9 years of age) and the oak is still very prominent, but knowing the Ardanza style, at least the wood character will be like that for the next 30-50 years or so. However, aging the wine for 15-20 years will integrate some of the oak underneath the fruit and bring out more tertiary complexity, so there is no need to pop these beauties open anytime soon. Will keep for decades if properly stored, so better get at least a few of these vanilla-driven Rioja classics and stash them away in the remotest corner of your cellar for a decade or two. Great value at 24€.
4 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Really opened up after an hour in the glass - started w spicy chocolate and dried berries - developed some caramel and cinnamon - not fruit forward very nice smooth tannins not too acidic - really nice
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Deep ruby/light purple color. Nose is dense with a deep core of plums, black cherries and red currants, along with potting soil, chewing tobacco, leather, allspice, some cedar and vanilla. Medium-bodied, seriously sturdy tannins, but vibrant acidity, makes for a young but fresh wine. Plums, black cherries, currants, the fruit is dense but crisp, laced with soil, tobacco, leather, pepper, sage, also some coffee grounds and dark chocolate. Lots going on here, but I would bury this in the back of the cellar, forget it for 10-15 years, and be amazed at what it has to offer. 80% Tempranillo, 20% Garnacha, bottled in 2013.
5 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
This deep garnet wine is a blend of 80% Tempranillo and 20% Grenache, with the latter being entirely sourced for the first time from estate vineyards. With a core of dried cherry fruit, it adds notes of clove, tangerine and tobacco. Full-bodied, freshly acidic, seamlessly alcoholic (13.5%) and with well-integrated oak, it is dense in the middle and has plentiful fine-grained tannins. The most impressive attribute of this wine is its finish, which elevates the tangerine component during its impressively long duration. Give it an hour or more in decanter and serve it at no higher than 65°F. This is a top-quality Spanish offering that performs well above its price point. Drink now-2022.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
91-92pts. Impressive. Had it at a restaurant in Barcelona. Already developed nicely, good fruit, bit of earthy notes in the background, balanced. Good weight to it, beautiful with food. Exceptional value.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
I really enjoyed this wine. Still Ripe but very savory with a long aftertaste. Classic Rioja flavors like cherry. There was definitely vanilla/oak but it was in the background and added to the flavor. Seemed to evolve with each sip. At first taste I thought it was pretty good, but at the last sip I thought it was great.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Mid-red. Some brown tints at the edges. The nose is slightly secondary, with even some tertiary elements. Some funk or barnyard. Some green notes. Vanillin oak plays a significant role. On the palate there is a wave of hot, ripe red berries. Slightly unbalanced.
Not altogether convincing on this showing, but I question if the bottle was 100% sound (although there was no obvious TCA, unlike a bottle of the 2007 from the same delivery).
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Cata Histórica de Viña Ardanza (Bodega Santa Cecilia - Madrid): For the first time Ardanza made only with 100% own grapes. Following the change of style. From the most stale tradition to the pure modern style. Currants in wood. It could be a RdD, a bottle of Roussillon or a Terre Alta wine. In the mouth it is ready to accompany food with a nice balance between acidity and tannin. Restaurants worldwide are happy. Still not for me.
Por vez primera aún Ardanza elaborado sólo con uva propia al 100% Sigue el cambio de estilo. De la mas rancia tradición hacia el puro estilo moderno. Grosellas en madera. Podría ser un RdD, una botella del Rosellón o un Terre Alta. En boca esta lista para acompañar comida con un equilibrio entre acidez y tanino. Aún así no es para mi.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Oaky, young and slightly tannic but with a good amount of extract. More than the last few vintages. This should age well. I haven't felt this level of concentration since 2001. Buy a case and keep it for a decade or two.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Tasted at Bodega. Medium/deep garnet, pale garnet rim. Slightly reticent, richer, darker toned than the Arana, spicy edge. Medium/full bodied, tobacco, fresh acids, very good length finish. Very good indeed.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Usually with Ardanza, it's a fool's errand to be opening one so young - they generally seem a little youthful and acidic.
However, in my own opinion, this is a slight departure from the usual Ardanza house style. It has a very chocolatey/bitter cocoa profile and a different mouthfeel with a drying finish than is usual.
I know the company is quite proud that it now uses all grapes in-house for this bottling (for the first time in 2008), and freely admits to 'evolution'.... but for me it's not so classic Ardanza. I also admit to rubbishing the 2004 on release, only to completely change my mind as the vintage aged, so it may just prove me wrong. But this, I feel is different.
I also feel that this doesn't have the ageability of previous vintages - there doesn't seem to be 'substance' to it. But maybe modern winemaking techniques can now deliver wines that can be drunk throughout their lifetime?
Anyway, it's still a very enjoyable wine, but I'm not sure I could refer to it as classic or classical.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
4/21/2024 - m.lupus Likes this wine: 90 Points
Ultimately a bit disappointing compared to 2007, say, lacking some depth and complexity. In addition to all the various wine-ranking systems out there, I can humbly offer my own very simple ranking system: Is a particular wine a STW (a Saturday Night Wine)? In this case the answer is no; I drank it on a Saturday night and wished I had opened a better bottle instead.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
1/3/2024 - ProfByron Likes this wine: 90 Points
A softer more straightforward Ardanza? Lacks the vibrancy of 2007 even if it is considered a better year.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
10/26/2023 - OttawaB Likes this wine: 92 Points
Same as previous except the flavours showed a bit more energy/tanginess/fruit.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
10/20/2023 - bajayngo wrote:
One of my favorites from the La Rioja Alta, this bottling follows more of a rustic old world style with plenty of Bayleaf, balsamic, Worcestershire, but still balanced and delicious. For the quality of the wine, it’s a real value!
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
10/7/2023 - jonboy74 wrote: 92 Points
from magnum. still primary and delicious. love this vintage of LRA
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
9/4/2023 - EricLi wrote: 93 Points
Probably among the best $25 wines you can ever find.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1)
8/9/2023 - curtr Likes this wine: 92 Points
Resolved and fully developed. Drink now to 2026.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
4/3/2023 - curtr Likes this wine:
In a good place. Drink now to 2026.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
3/23/2023 - oleronning wrote: 91 Points
Decanted 5 hours before drinking. Really start to find a good drinking window. A bit less structured and less fruit forward than the 2010, but starting to find some of the mature notes. Still some rubbery notes. Very enjoyable. 91 points.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
3/10/2023 - daveyk39 wrote: 92 Points
Vibrant and elegant in equal measure. I gave this about 1h of air, not sure that's needed. Medium garnet color. Offers dried cherry, fig, oak, leather, dill and a hint of charcoal. Extremely smooth and rich on the palate. Medium-bodied, with cherry, dirt and salinity, streaked with caramel and supported by polished tannins. The oak is a bit of an outlier here, poking itself out somewhat unappealingly. It doesn't detract enough to really affect things, but if it mellows over the next few years this could really be something.
4 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
1/27/2023 - battytaxicab Likes this wine: 92 Points
Ageing beautifully. Prior bottle 4 years ago was well reviewed but added depth and textures coming through now.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/12/2023 - OttawaB Likes this wine: 92 Points
Garnet in colour. Not much sediment. Aromas show red berries, sandalwood, some smokiness, garrigue. Very pleasant and floral overall. Not overpowering.
Flavours follow. Light dusty ripe tannins that grow as they sit on the palate. Sweet berry fruits, herbs. I would like to see more acidity. Seems a touch, and just a touch, flat on the palate. More acidity would tighten all of this together. But all in all, good balance, smooth.
5 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/11/2022 - nsellen wrote:
More disjointed today. Previous bottles have been well integrated, easy drinking but sufficiently complex to be notable. This one seems to have gaps between the fruit, oak, acid, chocolate and tannins. Nothing seems to have faded but everything’s moving away from each other. It’s probably me, not the wine. But….
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/19/2022 - BoxerBee wrote: 92 Points
Powerful nose and palate. Cherry, orange, ash, tobacco. Does not absorb the oak as well as Arana, 904, or 890. Still, this is great value for money at just around 20 Euros. Drink 2025-2035.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
10/22/2022 - Ernestas Likes this wine: 92 Points
A classic Rioja at its best, however I favour 2009, tasted last week, it felt a tat more focused, balanced and pronounced.
Tempranillo blend with 20% Garnacha, aged for 36 months in used US oak and 18 months in bottle. Medium intensity fragrant aroma of spices, cherries, rose petals, vanilla, smoky cold cuts, leather, black tea. Medium body, floral and spiced flavours, hint of meatiness, elaborate and pleasantly austere juicy acidity, polished powdery tannins, long vanilla like finish with oaky reminiscence.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
8/29/2022 - brianakrin wrote: 92 Points
I agree with previous notes . A goo one and drinking well . No hurry .
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/19/2022 - ploher wrote:
Another great bottle of this. Still so youthful, incredible energy with that juicy fruit and vibrant acidity. Forces you to the next sip. Still big on the oak which is normally a problem for me but somehow just works here. 17.5/20.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
8/9/2022 - D_RICH wrote: 92 Points
Double decanted, 20 minutes of air in decanter then back into bottle. Consumed over four hours; note at 4 hours. Ruby. Earth, animal, rustic Rioja notes on the old world nose. Complex on the palate, roasted dark red fruits with grip. This is my favorite vintage of Ardanza, previously consumed at a Spanish restaurant in 2019 with my Venezuelan friend. (92-93+).
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
3/7/2022 - Motz wrote: 92 Points
Split, drank over an evening.
The bouquet screams Rioja, loudly! Red fruits and berries, dried orange juice, dill, loam, rust, sandalwood, and urea. A recent reviewer noted light, integrated American oak. Said reviewer's oak tolerance is higher than mine, much higher. Oak is everywhere, as it should be...and yet...damn that is a lot of oak! Oak's hallmarks here are dill and urea...lots and lots and lots of urea, as in a distance runner's sweaty gear, or worse yet, urine soaked denim. My oak tolerance, as you may have discerned, is very low...and decreasing steadily.
Oak aside, correct in all regards. Bright, piercing fruit, fruit acid, enhanced by biting oak, and gritty tannin. It paired very well with hard charcuterie, cheeses, and olives, which helped tame the oak.
This split could have held for several years, but there is no reason not to drink it now.
I am done with Rioja...too much urea. Very good QPR. 92-93.
6 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (4)
3/1/2022 - EvoPeteMTL Likes this wine: 92 Points
This wine is in a great drinking phase right now. Brownish color, showing age. Beautiful vanilla nose. Typical rioja. Drinking beautifully after 30 minutes of air, melted tannins, a bit of acidity and mostly on tertiary notes. First time with this wine, reminds me a lot their greater cuvée 904. Matter fact, this is so good I probably could not tell the difference. 75th anniversary release and first year Rioja Alta introduced grenache from the La Pedriza vineyard.
5 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (4)
1/22/2022 - GEL Wines wrote: 89 Points
Less good than previous bottles. Less tobacco. Still solid.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/14/2022 - ploher wrote:
Rioja: This is firing on all cylinders right now. Very characteristic bouquet of orange zests, herbs, cherries and notes of American oak. The palate is also fantastic with blood oranges or maybe kumquats and razor sharp acidity cutting through the sweet fruit with ease. Great harmony and length. Perfect to drink now. This has always been one of my favourite vintages of Ardanza and I think now is the time to drink it. 18/20.
7 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1)
12/26/2021 - daveyk39 wrote: 93 Points
Absolutely excellent Rioja, serious typicity. Medium garnet color. Aromas of cherry, dried leaves, cedar, smoke and chocolate. Silky and succulent, medium-light bodied. Still lively on the palate, with tart red fruit, cola, pepper, mature chalky tannins, and smoky-sweet dried fruit in the lingering finish. Glad I have more stashed away!
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1)
12/26/2021 - JayP Likes this wine: 90 Points
Delicious Magnum drink with Christmas dinner - matched perfectly.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/27/2021 - WoodieBayArea wrote: 92 Points
very nice mid-level Tempranillo from Rioja... delicious and a crowd pleaser, feels open now but I think last another 10-15 years of your heart desires age
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
10/30/2021 - JayP Likes this wine: 89 Points
Delicious and drinking v well now. Get the impression it has maybe 3 to 5 years left
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
10/18/2021 - Doc90 Likes this wine: 90 Points
Old-fashioned nose of sarsaparilla and cherry milkshake. Smells delicious. Open and friendly. Excellent cherry tones. Quite approachable with just a bit of tannic sinew on the finish. Drinking well now, and subjectively better than the 2005.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
9/26/2021 - Deux Chevaux wrote:
23 months after the prior: sweet vanillin oak still shows, but it is not too far out there or excessive, and it’s backed up by good acidity and a pleasant hint of green stemmy bitterness. Nicely integrated, and very enjoyable.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/25/2021 - 3daywinereview.com wrote: 93 Points
Day 1: Dill, raspberries, funk, minerals and wood. Love this wine. While some hate the dill quality I love it just like the funk you get from a good Washington State Syrah. Super complex wine. 93 points
Day 2: Much softer wine and less intenese. I liked day 1 better. Mild dill, raspberries, dust, minerals and wood. Classic style and one of my favorite Spanish wines for the money. 92 points
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
8/15/2021 - Alexroy wrote: 92 Points
Powerful, dark fruit, vanilla, plums, blackberry. Lovely
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/14/2021 - David J Cooper wrote: 91 Points
Medium purple red. Aged Rioja nose, medium intensity, plums, leather, smoke, earth and dill. Dry light earthy dill and berry flavours and a nice balanced finish.
5 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
8/3/2021 - wgmccallum Likes this wine: 95 Points
Dark garnet. Forward aromas of black fruit, fig skin, franjipani, tobacco, tar, and a hint of vanilla oak. Broad spread of dense extracted dark fruit on the palate with crackling tannins in a cleansing acid frame, a wonderful evolution to the long aromatic finish. Stunning integration of structure and elasticity. Excellent with guacamole and a machaca bowl from Blanco.
5 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (2)
7/24/2021 - CGWIND Likes this wine: 92 Points
Great with paella. Lots of acid and cherry fruit. Lots of time to go
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/4/2021 - andreel Likes this wine: 91 Points
Very enjoyable, at the right stage of maturity
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/2/2021 - EricLi wrote: 93 Points
Remain a fabulous wine with minimal decant required.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/19/2021 - forceberry wrote: 93 Points
A blend of Tempranillo (80%) from 30-yo vines and Garnacha (20%) from La Pedriza vineyard planted at high altitude in La Rioja Baja. This is the first vintage that was made completely from fruit sourced from own vineyards (traditionally at least a part of Garnacha has been purchased). Fermented and macerated in stainless steel, aged in stainless steel tanks until March 2009. The Tempranillo wines were aged for 36 months in American oak barriques averaging 4 years old and the Garnacha wines were aged for 30 months in 2nd and 3rd use American oak barrels. Blended and bottled in March 2013. 13,5% alcohol, 1,8 g/l residual sugar, 6,1 g/l acidity and pH 3,56.
Deep, dark and only very slightly translucent ruby red color with a subtly evolved maroon hue. Open and rather sweet-toned but also slightly restrained nose with nuanced aromas of ripe figs and sweet black cherries, some pruney tones, a little bit of leather and meaty character, light oaky notes of vanilla and cedar, a lifted hint of VA and a touch of cloves. The wine is ripe and silky but also pretty dry and more medium-bodied rather than full-bodied on the palate. Intense flavors of sour cherries and tart lingonberries, some ferrous notes of blood, a little bit of tobacco, light sweet notes of black cherries and prunes, oaky hints of vanilla and cedar and a touch of bitter woody spice. The overall feel is enjoyably structured and sinewy, thanks to both very high acidity and very ample but also quite ripe tannins that bring nice firmness to the mouthfeel and slowly pile up on the gums. The finish is quite dry, moderately grippy and wonderfully long with quite complex flavors of tart red plums and crunchy cranberries, some sweet ripe figs and pruney notes, a little bit of leather, light oaky notes of vanilla and cedar, a slightly bitter hint of savory wood spice and a touch of jammy red fruit.
A very balanced, classically built and thoroughly textbook Ardanza. The overall feel is slightly drier and more structure-driven than in vintages 2004 and 2005, but contrasting to the dry and quite tightly-knit vintage 2007, this wine feels slightly softer and sweeter. Contrasting this bottle to the one I had a few years ago when the wine was just released (September 2017), I felt the vanilla nuances had integrated a little bit with the fruit, but the overall impression was still rather woody - however, that is something that can be expected of Ardanza. All in all, the wine shows terrific balance between the fruit, the structure, the oak and the overall intensity. Seeing how very little the wine had aged in 4 years, I expect it to continue to improve for many more years, even decades. Although the wine can be drunk just fine at the moment, I doubt it will show its best until a few decades from here. A very promising vintage by all accounts.
4 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
6/18/2021 - Paul D wrote: 91 Points
1/4, vg cork. #103,402.
Medium/deep garnet core, pale garnet rim. Nose shows strawberry, touch of plum, vanilla, spice. some blood orange and leather with time in glass. Medium bodied, harmonious and composed, quite fleshy with strawberry fruit, vanilla, soft tannins, some light savoury/gamey notes, spice, lovely vibrant acids carrying a good length finish. Lovely, drinking really well.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
6/18/2021 - ruth3 Likes this wine:
softer than i was expecting. smoky, savoury, strawberry. really good now
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
6/12/2021 - df1962 wrote: 93 Points
PnD let air for 2hrs.
Consistent with previous notes. Big flavours with balance and elegance. Grippy finish. Still lots of fruit to go with the tertiary notes. Drink up over the next three years.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comments (2)
5/29/2021 - pfisher17 Likes this wine: 94 Points
Amazing. Drinking well and should be fine for another 5+ years. There is a sour note in the finish which I can’t place but this wine has it all.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
5/16/2021 - GARDEN Likes this wine: 92 Points
This bottle followed the same pattern as earlier ones. I rated the wine 91 on night one and 92 on night two. This wine clearly has not peaked yet.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
3/30/2021 - prof b wrote:
Very nice, medium bodied rioja. Although the oak is quite present, I found it mostly worked with the red fruits and good acid. I'm going to hold a while to hope for more oak integration.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
3/6/2021 - PSPatrick wrote: 91 Points
Dark garnet colour. Red fruit, strawberry, an intense dill note, coffee, cocoa, tobacco, spices, clove, and vanilla, with good, lively, medium-level acidity, fine tannin, and superb length. Balsamic finish. Medium-bodied and well-balanced. Very Burgundian. A beautiful Rioja! I preferred it to the Vina Bosconia 2007 I had the other night. Drink or hold.
6 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
3/3/2021 - Alex Brogan wrote: 89 Points
Quite a tight Rioja. It's got loads of fresh acidity and it's tempting to show some leather and spice in the future. I'd hold for a while but it is still pretty good to drink now.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1)
2/21/2021 - happy712 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Awesome smoke, leather, earthy flavors. Great with smoked meats and cheeses. Right in the drinking window. No decant necessary.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1)
2/16/2021 - GARDEN Likes this wine: 92 Points
Still 91 on night one and 92 on night 2... I will hold my remaining bottles for a little longer.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
2/14/2021 - madia wrote: 93 Points
On the nose- red fruits, earthy notes and leather. Medium bodied, dusty tannins and M+ acidity. Complex and intense. Excellent
4 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
1/19/2021 - Bandreas wrote:
Saturated, almost impenetrable dark red color; slight hint of wood polish on the nose, leather and leather dust some dark black fruit.
On the palate it is lively, has medium weight, shows a touch of dusty tannins and leather dust plus acidity to keep it alive and give it good aging potential.
For me this has the typical Ardanza characteristics and I do not quite see where some of the other tasters see a significant departure from the past..
I quite enjoyed the wine, have another 4 bottles to go and am looking forward to drinking the remainder over the next year or two.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
1/18/2021 - brianakrin wrote: 92 Points
Wonderful Rioja as always. Drinking well, no hurry
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1)
1/11/2021 - GEL Wines Likes this wine: 90 Points
Elegant and excellent QPR Rioja. 80% Tempranillo, 20% Garnacha. Beautiful garnet red. Limited bouquet. Dark berry/cherry with some earthy tones, rounded but present tannins. Garnacha taste profile definitively present. Medium mouthfeel. Ready for drinking and should hold for several more years. Drank without a decant which was fine; may have improved slightly over following hours. Nice wine to accompany a meal (roasted or grilled meat).
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/31/2020 - Justin S Likes this wine: 90 Points
On PnP: As this is gaining age, the fruit seems to have mellowed out quite a bit, but the complexity hasn't necessarily picked up yet. This should last a long time, so I probably won't drink the next bottle for at least 2-3 years. 89 Day 2: Really quite nice, much less oak intruding on the fruit, supple wine. 91.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1)
12/23/2020 - Motz wrote: 93 Points
Split, tasted over two days.
Pronounced and classic Rioja bouquet. This wine features more purple berries than red, and is quite open knit, with velour-like textures. Compelling weight, backed by luxurious gritty tannin. Medium plus acid holds all elements in great balance.
If reserva and gran reserva Rioja were to be classed as Burgundian or Bordeaux in style, this would heavily toward the latter. Pipe tobacco, worn leather, and blackcurrant elements in particular put the mind to Pauillac.
Excellent QPR!
5 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/23/2020 - ruth3 wrote:
balanced acid, length, dark fruit, velvety tannins
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/6/2020 - ppandian wrote: 89 Points
Slightly bricking, beautiful nose, violet flowers, velvety tannins.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/3/2020 - GARDEN Likes this wine: 92 Points
91 on night one and 92 on night two
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/29/2020 - Lemmy-W wrote: 91 Points
lovely Rioja. Needs time, better on day2.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/26/2020 - brianakrin wrote: 91 Points
rich fruit, well balanced, elegant , Drinking well
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/14/2020 - jonathanknowles Likes this wine: 91 Points
Red berries and fleshy cherry. Smoky tobacco, leather, vanilla. Good concentration, dense and chewy and plenty of tannin. Beginning to show signs of maturity but has a long life ahead. Long savoury finish. A lovely Ardanza.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/14/2020 - JayP Likes this wine: 88 Points
Rather odd bottle. Initially on first opening it had virtually no nose and tasted very bland and closed. I considered decanting but didn't. Later in eve it began to open up a bit but was still rather odd. Had last 1/3 of bottle 24 hrs after when it was far more 'normal' but still rather sharp and acidic. Flawed bottle maybe?
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comments (1)
10/26/2020 - belfast taxman wrote: 90 Points
I suggest that this has reached its own top form, although I would not rule out a slightly higher mark if it does continue to improve with further maturity. Could certainly be kept for a few years yet
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
10/11/2020 - Chili Likes this wine: 90 Points
Needed slot of decanting to go from nice nose- Huge tannins to balanced and pleasing
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
10/4/2020 - 3daywinereview.com wrote: 91 Points
Day 2: Nicely balanced featuring raspberries, mild dill, subtle oak, earth and leather. Medium finish and nice acidity. Not as good as the last bottle. Estimated drinking window, now to 2026. 91 points
Day 3: Similar to day 2. Just not rocking like the last bottle. 90-91 points
Recommendation: I would hope these improve by holding a year or two but don't see these as really long term agers.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
9/25/2020 - DanielOsman Likes this wine: 91 Points
A lovely wine. Ripe cherries, butter, leather and pepper on the nose. Palate displays the same flavour profile, with a big body. Still fresh and youthful but tannins are smooth and good acidity. Medium/big body, medium/long finish. Plenty of years left yet, no need to rush.
4 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
9/23/2020 - Radboy wrote: 92 Points
Great wine with a sea food paella.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comments (3)
9/13/2020 - quaffnov wrote: 88 Points
No formal note, this shows too much of the barrel for me, it is on the highly perfumed side with the oak yelling on the nose and palate very loudly.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
8/28/2020 - noni15 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Day 1: 93 pts. Butter, cedar notes and ripe red berries to the nose. Medium body with semi long finish. Beautiful Rioja and once again excellent PQR.
Day 3 : Solid 93 pts.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
8/2/2020 - JayP Likes this wine: 89 Points
A lovely Vina Ardanza. Still a little immature to my taste so open an hour or two before or keep for a year or so at least.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
7/26/2020 - EdgardoJM wrote:
Decated 2 hours before. Really good -
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/11/2020 - Motz wrote: 93 Points
Half bottle, tasted over two days.
Classic Rioja! The wine rides that intriguing line of purple flowers, tangy red and purple fruits, freshness, balanced by oxidativeness, umami, including cut tobacco, meat smokehouse, loam, and urea. All these else worked harmoniously, delivery satisfying range and depth, along with striking balance and structure. This multidimensional offering showed quite young, likely no less than seven to ten years from maturity...and it should hold for several years thereafter.
Rioja ranks far from a preference to this palate, but the best offerings command my respect. This is such a wine. 92-94.
5 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1)
6/19/2020 - jonboy74 Likes this wine:
From a 1.5L stored in offsite storage. Tannins almost entirely resolved, amazing the difference a year makes. Will try another mag in a month to see if its bottle variation or if this one is at its peak. Don't think this one will make it to 2045 as CT suggests.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
6/2/2020 - Slaz Likes this wine: 92 Points
Terrific value and yummy and juicy rioja, especially after an hour of decanting. Keeps getting only better since my initial tasting of this vintage in 2017.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
5/31/2020 - loantaka Likes this wine: 93 Points
Opened 3 hours before. Amazing.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/20/2020 - ploher wrote:
Medium to deep ruby. Sour cherries and earth in the nose with a very shy vanilla touch, some dill and other dried herbs. Silky texture on the palate, medium bodied, with quite powerful, but cool and clean red fruit and some lovely blood orange especially on the finish. Ripe tannins give the wine a nice bite and the acidity is absolutely beautiful, providing balance, tension and freshness. Ends long with a "nutty" touch and has very good grip.This is an outstanding vintage of Ardanza in my opinion which is drinking very well right now (with some air) and should evolve over at least a decade. 17.5/20
6 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
5/15/2020 - S.Wayne Likes this wine: 92 Points
Single blind tasting
Garnet with bricking
Aromatics medium +. Well integrated oak with dill and coconut. Ripe black fruits
Palate medium +. Tannin medium, fine and on the upper palate. Acidity medium. Cherry and plums
Finish has medium + length and appears perfectly balanced
Seems to be drinking great now. Perhaps aging will bring out some secondary notes, but it's tough to wait on the next bottle.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/15/2020 - dsamuel Likes this wine: 93 Points
Medium ruby with mild bricking
Medium plus beautiful aromas - sweet/ sour cherries with strong American oak coconut/ dill features
Medium body with palate sweet/ sour cherry and raspberry
Again heavy American oak influence but beautifully integrated with the soft fruit
Medium plus acidity and medium tannins, both felt primarily on the tongue with a medium finish
Every year this wine delivers way past its pricepoint - I love this stuff!
Will probably last for years but I really dont see any reason to do so since its drinking so well now
5 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
4/29/2020 - belfast taxman wrote: 89 Points
This wine is full on at the moment. Smoky fruit, sweet vanilla, all very fresh.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
4/11/2020 - Aztec94 wrote: 91 Points
Really earthy upon opening. Took a bit to blow off, but was pretty nice once it did. Light red fruit (raspberry and tart cherry) with some sweet tobacco and earth. Burst of acid near the end and slightly chalky tannins.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
4/7/2020 - tedcholl Likes this wine: 92 Points
I think Rioja is my favorite comfort varietal. Last bottle of the 2008 but have a few 2009. This wine and producer is always so solid. Great balance, nice finish. On the palate blackberry, oak, leather, smoke, touch of pepper.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
3/15/2020 - Jonny d Likes this wine: 92 Points
La Rioja Alta continues to hit QPR out of the park with the '08. Medium ruby in the glass with a medium rim and no bricking. A bit of a tobacco and oak bomb on the nose. Lovely raspberry and tobacco on the palate. Smooth and delicious. Should please the novice and snob alike.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
3/6/2020 - Paul852 Likes this wine: 90 Points
Fortunately my last bottle wasn't tainted (see my previous note), despite another soft cork.
After 2 hours in the decanter it was very pleasant: smooth slightly earthy fruits, a nice bite of acidity, minimal tannins.
It's a nice, easy drinking Rioja; but is it worth US$30 a bottle? I'm not so sure.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
1/20/2020 - Mtpisgah Likes this wine:
Consumed over two nights. Earth and leather. Subtle red fruit. Very enjoyable.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/9/2020 - vinoesvida Likes this wine:
earthy wine and delicious. 2 more years and should be Great!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/31/2019 - battytaxicab Likes this wine: 91 Points
Characteristic rusty red. Quite a contained, reserved aroma but a delicious earthy, leathery taste with plenty of dark red berries. I’ll see how the next three bottles age over the next years with anticipation
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/20/2019 - EricLi wrote: 92 Points
Perfumed. Solid on the palate. The only knock is that it is a little thin from the mid palate on. But QPR is unbeatable.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/15/2019 - 4 Pointers Likes this wine: 92 Points
Drank from a 3 liter bottle decayed for six hours...still really long but approachable probably should have decanted for a day before drinking.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/14/2019 - Claw Dee Puss Likes this wine: 91 Points
3 hour decant. 100% Tempranillo.
Yum - very nice wine at the top of its game right now - stylish, balanced, nuanced - pretty long too.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/3/2019 - tedcholl Likes this wine: 92 Points
Excellent Rioja from a great producer at a nice 11 years of age. Dusty cherry, aged leather, oak , blackberry, earthy. Great balance and finish. This Rioja never disappoints.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/3/2019 - Paul852 wrote: flawed
Soft cork with a little leakage apparent. The wine was tainted by TCA. Which is a shame.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/1/2019 - Radboy wrote: 91 Points
Enjoyable bottle.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/17/2019 - rocknroller wrote: 93 Points
Monthly Tasting Group: Spain (Estelle, St. Paul, MN): Very small taste. No details; very good, even better than the '05 which was drinking extremely well too. More depth and power to the '08.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (2)
10/29/2019 - pilatus88 Likes this wine: 90 Points
It is a modern style with red fruit and lively vibrant cherry. Some oak, tobacco and sourness. There is also some tartness in the finish that pulls it down. Overall a good wine but not spectacular.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
10/28/2019 - Deux Chevaux wrote:
14 months after the prior: rich, with sweet oak, verging on excessive. But overall quite integrated and harmonious over three nights.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/25/2019 - CHINACAT wrote: 91 Points
Fresh and lively, with plenty of red fruit, a hint of tartness, and some mineral notes. Elegant and slightly austere. Still in the primary phase, but very enjoyable.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
10/21/2019 - Pluecht wrote: 88 Points
Possibly flawed bottle.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/14/2019 - jonboy74 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Great wine. I love the 2008, my wife prefers the 2009. Drank from a 1.5L that was stored at room temp for a year. Really hit the mark. Glad I have a stockpile of this in the wine fridge!
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
10/10/2019 - bvivio Likes this wine: 92 Points
Appearance: medium ruby, garnet at the very edge, essentially no staining, medium+ tearing.
Nose: clean, developing, medium+ intensity, red cherry, red plum, black plum, dried sour cherry, dark fig, ash, cigar box, vanilla, cinnamon, cedar, dill, smoke, dusty leather, worn wood, toasted coconut, scorched earth, balsamic.
Palate: dry, medium tannin, medium+ acid, medium+ alcohol (13.5%), medium+ body, medium+ finish, red cherry, red plum, black plum, dark fig, ash, cigar box, cinnamon, cedar, dill, dusty leather, toasted coconut, scorched earth, balsamic.
Overall: A very classic, savory, reserved Rioja. Great acid, tannin structure, and body. A solid offering from one of my favorite Rioja producers.
5 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
10/7/2019 - Nyrican wrote: 91 Points
One of my favorites always delivers
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/5/2019 - celiopls Likes this wine: 92 Points
Tawny colour which is normal for an 11 year old wine. Intense nose of dried fruits and dried flowers paired with some forest floor scents. On the palate the balance is amazing . If paired with food is an absolute pleasure. The aftertaste is long.Amazing!
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
9/10/2019 - Yagil wrote: 91 Points
Spanish wines tasting (at my home): pale ruby
medium aromas intensity of dry red cherries, red cranberries, red sour plums, raspberries, earth, forest floor;
developing;
dry, high acidity, med tannins, med abv, med body; med(+) flavours intensity consistent with the aromas; sound complexity; lingering finish;
can drink now - suitable for further aging;
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
9/10/2019 - belfast taxman wrote: 90 Points
First time for a year or so and there are definite signs of improvement in this wine, the fruit is more clearly defined and the balance seems better. Good value choice now drinking well
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
9/10/2019 - tedcholl Likes this wine: 93 Points
93 points for this wonderful Rioja from a great producer. A Rioja I drink frequently I gave it a higher rating this time as it seems to be within its ideal drinking window at 11 years old but will still be excellent for years to come. Everything well integrated and complimentary. In my Rioja drinking experience this Rioja offers the best quality for the price."
4 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
7/29/2019 - Slaz Likes this wine: 91 Points
Excellent, especially after an hour of decanting. Paired some sophisticated indian-cuisine dishes well and was delightful on its own too.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
6/28/2019 - schwank wrote: flawed
Horrible TCA. Poured out.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/19/2019 - Matt T wrote: 91 Points
Really pleasant Rioja with good acid and notes of leather and cherry. Great value for the money.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
4/22/2019 - Tannatastic Does not like this wine:
Really not enjoying this wine at all.
The 'evolution' the company claims to be following seems to be towards a wine that the rest of the world tried and mostly discarded and that I'd hoped we were seeing the back of.
Very polished and glossy, it has badly integrated alcohol, and much darker (as opposed to red) fruit profile, and at this early stage of it's life doesn't really show off the oak regimen much (it is meant to be Rioja, and high quality stuff, after all).
We assumed the acidity might match food, specifically lamb, because Rioja was made for roast lamb. It didn't.
My earlier criticisms of this wine still stand. For the company to compare it to the 2001 is ludicrous in my opinion. It's been clear since the 2001 vintage that there has been a slow-evolution in style of Ardanza, but the earlier changes were liveable, and still added to the whole. If this represents the end destination of the process, then I can only agree with other fans of LRA such as Harley1199 and MacauJames that it isn't a wine I recognise (it is more reminiscent of full bodied Ribeiro del Duero), and that the Alberdi 2010 is significantly superior.
I lament having bought so many, and will be more circumspect with future Ardanza purchases, as its no longer a wine I recognise.
7 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (10)
4/14/2019 - sdwineguru Likes this wine: 91 Points
2008 La Rioja Alta Rioja Viña Ardanza Reserva $30. Dark garnet, brick edges; plum, peppery, wood (manzanita) nose; opens with air; mid-body; balanced; ripe; good fruit and style; long fruity finish. w/short ribs.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
4/4/2019 - Yagil wrote: 91 Points
Mature Rioja tasting: deep garnet
pronounced secondary & tertiary aromas of dry ripe cherries, plums, earthy strawberries, leather, toasted oak-vanilla, fine pepper spice, mint & eucalyptus.
still developing.
drhy, high acidity, med fine silky coated tannins, med abv, med body, med+ flavours intensity of dry ripe black cherries, dark plums, toasted oak, leather, black tea, mint, licorice, earth, fine spices, long finish;
can drink now - suitable for further ageing.
outstanding wine!
11 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
3/30/2019 - Xu Lanhong Likes this wine: 92 Points
Surprinagly sharp and fresh. Will develop more. However, even now it’s a great wine to drink.
Dark berry and sherry flavours with some acidity that i found unusual for a 11 year old Rioja. Beautiful ruby red and developed nicely over the 2 hour dinner we had it.
A bargain and a superb wine
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
3/11/2019 - Yagil wrote: 91 Points
Coravin tasting
see my previous TN
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/3/2019 - Mtpisgah Likes this wine:
Spectacular wine for the price. I really need to start looking into Rioja more.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/22/2019 - Yagil wrote: 91 Points
Coravin tasting
deep garnet
pronounced secondary & tertiary aromas of dry ripe cherries, plums, earthy strawberries, leather, toasted oak-vanilla, fine pepper spice, mint & eucalyptus.
still developing.
drhy, high acidity, med fine silky coated tannins, med abv, med body, med+ flavours intensity of dry ripe black cherries, dark plums, toasted oak, leather, black tea, mint, licorice, earth, fine spices, long finish;
can drink now - suitable for further ageing.
outstanding wine!
5 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
2/10/2019 - the shrub wrote: 88 Points
High quality but too sharp and fruity for a rioja to my taste at present. Leave a few years
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
2/5/2019 - EricLi wrote: 92 Points
A crowd pleaser. Everybody loved it. For less than $30, I cannot remember any better wine. I will leave the rest of my bottles to see the development.
4 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
2/1/2019 - NateR Likes this wine: 90 Points
Nice structure and tannins, and pairs pretty well with steak. Dark berry aroma and flavor, but not overly fruity. Slight raisin taste on the finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/29/2018 - Pey2001 wrote: 89 Points
I have a bunch of 2009 magnums so I picked this up to see what the house style was and what I might expect. Although I'm sure there are differences of the vintage, I got a sense: big vanilla and coconut flavour of oak, soft tannins with a mid fruit and balanced acidity profile. Not as perfumed or as nuanced as the 2005 Vina Tondonia Reserve I've been drinking of late. A much less subtle wine. Very delicious, but for me the oaky vanilla is a bit too over present. I'm definitely going to lay off my clutch for a year or so at least and plan to have them age for quite a while longer. There seems to be a lot of vibrancy that can sustain many years in the cellar and may well reward it.
4 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/11/2018 - bajayngo wrote:
Pretty barrel notes vanilla bean, toast, pickle mad coconut followed by red fruits, black tea and tobacco leaf with hidden acids that keep this balanced.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/4/2018 - Saintock Likes this wine: 91 Points
Nose of leather,red fruits
Full body/earthy/licorice
Smooth palate with a cherry finish
Very nice
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/3/2018 - guy12 Likes this wine: 90 Points
Still young & tight, opened out on night 2
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/1/2018 - EMichels wrote: 90 Points
Nice structure and definition
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/27/2018 - tmagsmaken wrote: 89 Points
Coravin Tasting (all new bottles)
La Rioja Alta Ardanza 2008: 89 points
Very drinkable wine with a fairly concentrated nose with dominated by blackcurrant, strawberry, and cherry. Some herbal notes here and a little bit of vanilla. Full body wine with medium complexity, good length, and balance although there is a slight bitterness in the aftertaste. Overall, a quality wine representing good value for money.
La Rioja Alta 904 2005: 92 points
A high-quality wine with a medium concentrated nose with predominantly blackcurrant and cherry, but also some liquorice and vanilla. A big step up from the Ardanza, more balanced, less noticeable alcohol and more developed tannins. It is also more complex, layered and has medium-plus length. A delicious high-quality wine that represents excellent value for money.
La Rioja Alta 890 2004: 93 points
Undoubtedly a high-quality wine that has all the dark fruit of the 904 and is even more balanced and elegant. Higher complexity and length too but surprisingly not as much herbal and tertiary aromas as I was expecting. Maybe this is still too young? High-quality wine, no doubt, which is correctly priced but does not represent the same value for money as the 904.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/16/2018 - Nostromo99 Likes this wine: 89 Points
Sweet, vanilla-infused nose. Almost creamy. Very smooth in the mouth. Medium-bodied. Good length, slightly grippy finish. Not particularly complex, but pleasant enough to drink. A good, four-square Rioja. Nothing to write home about, but perfectly pleasant to drink now and for quite some time, I suspect.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/2/2018 - belfast taxman wrote: 89 Points
Good value mid-quality and very typical of the more traditional style of Rioja.
Paired nicely with Spanish loin of pork (unsurprisingly!)
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/1/2018 - rwpalmer wrote: 87 Points
Tasted twice. I see the enthusiastic reviews but I find this to be a mid-range old school rioja. Fine beside the fire. Ready to go and not for the long haul.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/29/2018 - Nutty08 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Much better on night 2 as the dill and oak was more integrated. Red fruits, savory, quite fresh and fine on the palate.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
10/25/2018 - 3daywinereview.com wrote: 92 Points
La Rioja Tasting at Haskell's, Minnetonka (Haskells, Minnetonka): Leather, mineral, spice, wood and cherry. Quite balanced and showing well again tonight. This wine is hitting its peak. While aging is an option it is drinking great right now. Drink now to 2020.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
10/20/2018 - richard thorne Likes this wine: 91 Points
Consistently excellent. Will it really last until 2045? Can I possibly keep my last bottle for another few years and will I remember enough to judge whether it has improved?
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
10/19/2018 - Vince_chip wrote: 91 Points
Bu lors du voyage en Espagne.
Saveurs de fruits rouges et la mûre surette. Bel accompagnement de bois et de cuir. C’est très fin et bien fait. Une belle bouteille. Ne pas plus attendre!!
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
10/8/2018 - jambovia Likes this wine:
Nice, enjoyed it
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/7/2018 - Jzizzle Likes this wine: 92 Points
Intense coconut/wood nose, but it works. The fruit still has a freshness, somehow along with salty age, juicy and tart into the finish where tannins remain healthy. Nice intensity across dimensions, but things are in a nice balance. Very enjoyable, and I suspect many good drinking years ahead.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
10/7/2018 - acheng wrote: 91 Points
Lovely cedar and saddle wood expansive and long. Somehow faltering by day 2.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/2/2018 - Double-A Likes this wine: 95 Points
Aromatic, roasted nut, buttered toast, sandalwood, dill, cherry and rhubarb nose. Vibrant and alive palate with excellent flavour replays and polished tannins. Long complex, toast and dill finish.
5/5
5 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
9/21/2018 - Paul852 Likes this wine: 90 Points
Decanted this for about 2.5 hours before drinking with a steak.
This is a very nice wine. On the nose dark but slightly sweet fruit, a hint of liquorice. On the palate it's very smooth indeed - full of fruit and a nice acidity to balance it; some light tannins. A medium length finish. Perhaps slightly easier drinking and not quite as "chewy" as I expected.
Like others here I shall be stocking up on this as a "house Rioja" for the next few months.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
9/19/2018 - Winowhyno Likes this wine: 90 Points
Ruby Red...firm and balanced...almost like a cross between a Napa Cab and a nice Brunello. This review is after a pop and pour so we shall see how it goes with the balance tomorrow.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/14/2018 - Renevin wrote: 90 Points
Beau vin avec beaucoup de finesse. Nez fruité, en bouche, moyennement corsé, bien équilibré. Les tanins sont soyeux. Prêt à boire,mais capable de tenir encore plusieurs années.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
9/11/2018 - Slaz Likes this wine: 92 Points
I keep going through my stash (and keep procuring more bottles), this is that good. My best everyday Rioja so far. Excellent balance of acidity, restrained fruit, and some good energy. Great value.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
9/8/2018 - CHINACAT wrote: 89 Points
Quite good, but still a bit primary and firm. Needs a couple of more years to really hit its stride.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
9/4/2018 - scheune Likes this wine: 93 Points
Schoener Rioja mit Zigarrenkiste, Leder und Kirsche ,Vanille. Ein Klassiker , der noch viele Jahre vor sich hat!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/31/2018 - Deux Chevaux wrote:
Similar to our note 8 months ago. Rich, harmonious, balanced. Highly enjoyable over three nights.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/25/2018 - TheScottieV Likes this wine: 95 Points
A hue of medium purple, and I can smell the vanilla from American Oak before in get my nose to the glass. Nice dried strawberry and cinnamon aromas as i dive in. A full bodied juice with silky tannins and a nice balance with the acidity. Savory semi-sweet cherry, some leather, spice and a super long finish. Just what I’ve been looking for. 95
6 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
8/17/2018 - jimyeni Likes this wine: 91 Points
Quite good, nice complexity from some bottle age. I think an ever so slight hint of Brett that added some character. Olives and cherry on the nose. Quite enjoyable.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
8/10/2018 - Matt Scott Likes this wine: 94 Points
Decanted for an hour. Cigar box complexity, wild cherry, wet earth and a little menthol. Long and gushing, with strut and balance. The fruit is starting to head in the secondary direction, but remains primary. The tannin and acidity are integrated. Impeccable with spicy chicken fajitas - the suggestive fruit prevails. Drink 2019 - 2034.
7 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
8/2/2018 - Matt T wrote: 91 Points
This is great quality for the cost. Balanced with ripe red fruit and good acidity. Medium length finish. In top form now. I wouldn’t expect this to improve further.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/31/2018 - EricLi wrote: 92 Points
PnP. Ready to go right away. Smooth and refreshing. Very easy to drink.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comments (1)
7/29/2018 - Cap312 Likes this wine: 94 Points
Excellent
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/29/2018 - moany rhoney Likes this wine: 90 Points
Cherry and raspberry fruit, with cinnamon and vanilla, this is sweet fruited, notes of milk Chocolate in complex finish. You know I really loved the 05& 01 and thought 08 would be a lesser wine but now I'm not sure. Perhaps less serious but so lovely.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/28/2018 - fred o. Likes this wine:
tasted blind.
dark violet color. Nose black cherry with hint of vanilla.
Palate fresh cherries with some dusky fruits; nicely rich/slightly velvety texture, tannic.
A bit bigger than I expected but drinking well now. 91 pts
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
7/28/2018 - belfast taxman wrote: 89 Points
Well it seems I could only resist this wine for about 4 months and not the year I suggested in my last review. Warm sweet red fruit and that familiar vanilla background. I don’t think this will become an absolute cracker of a wine but it is definitely a good one
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/28/2018 - macaujames wrote: 90 Points
I only aerated this 90 mins and it was a lean 88. It started to come together as an 89/90 at the end of a meal after about 3hrs aeration. This is not the sure value like the 2005. Has aromas of blackberries, strawberries, developing vanilla hints. Its medium bodied a bit four square yet smooth undeveloped red and black fruits palate has some vanilla, developing depth. Ends mediumish tapering and zingy. 13.5%. I am a bit perplexed with this wine and would welcome any comments.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (2)
7/15/2018 - mysterycooper Likes this wine: 91 Points
Half bottle at The Circus in Bath, UK.
Asked for it to be chucked into a small water decanter, needed it.
Memory: became really enjoyable after about 20 minutes +. All dark fruit & balsamic. Very nice. 90/91
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/15/2018 - Jettoy1992 wrote: 93 Points
Perfect time
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
7/14/2018 - jrh82 Likes this wine: 90 Points
Very decent wine. Nicely integrated tannins. Oak on the nose but not crazy amounts. Good medium acidity. Good weight.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/14/2018 - Justin S Likes this wine: 90 Points
Very enjoyable as always. Consistent with prior notes. Nose showing some oak, Extremely youthful, red fruited, soft tannins. This time the oak in the palate seemed to poke through more than I remember, perhaps because I recently had the ‘05 from magnum. I will hold remaining bottles for 1-2 more years.
5 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (2)
7/4/2018 - Tetherton Likes this wine: 93 Points
To celebrate July 4, we popped the cork on this Rioja! It was spectacular from the first pour. On the nose there were sweet cherries and black currants. The flavor profile was cherries with a hint of black pepper, coffee, and cinnamon. The finish was glorious!
4 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
7/3/2018 - wineamateur Likes this wine:
13.5%. €17,95 (Eurospar)
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/30/2018 - srh Likes this wine:
Winebar [4 Whites, 8 Reds, & 4 *shared* VERY *interesting* bottles] from 06/29/18] (Vintage Wines Ltd., San Diego, CA): 13.5% ABV; 1.8 g/l R.S., 6.1 g/l T.A., & 3.56 pH; 80% Tempranillo (aged in 4-year-old AM oak for 36 mos) and 20% Grenache (aged in 2- to 3-year-old AM oak for 30 mos).
N: Fragrant vanilla, poss choc, atop berries; Intensity lurking?
P: Med body; Rndish entry with NICE, almost swtish frt met by some astringent pucker which PRETTY much loses its bite by the LONG, OCCASIONALLY very VERY slightly bitterish finish with note of swtness to the remaining very, VERY fine tannins. For now & making its 15th, + I can still see at least the POSS of improvement for the next yr or so. My VG+/EXC-, probably shading more toward the higher. 95 pts Decanter [although it was 90 later on -- in their World Wine awards], 94 ea Suckling & Jamie Goode, 93 ea WA, Guia Penin, & Wine-Pages.com, 90 WS, & 17.5/20 Jancis Robinson. [VERY atypically, this vendor's $29.95 is one of the LEAST competitive prices in a MASSIVE wine-searcher field.]
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
6/30/2018 - Grantmanon Likes this wine: 94 Points
Color is brownish red ruby with some signs of age. Aroma has a lot of oak and cherry- mouthwatering. Nose has tobacco, dried cherry, and herbs. Mouth is dried cherry, tomato, and earthiness. Medium body and acidity and tannin gives exceptional balance. Delicious.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
6/29/2018 - StainedGlass Likes this wine: 92 Points
Excellent Rioja even though it’s still young and primary. Sweet dried red cherry, spice, white pepper, anise. This was a restaurant pop and pour and will show better with time and decanting but I think this had excellent aging potential and is a good value to boot. 13.5% abv.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
6/28/2018 - azagoth Likes this wine: 92 Points
Un Rioja comme je les aime, fin et délicat.
En son cœur, on y goûte des fruits rouges et de la réglisse, qui sont portés par une belle acidité. On y trouve également quelques saveurs d'épices et de fleurs qui perdurent dans une belle finale assez longue. Tout en équilibre, ce vin est aucunement lourd et se boit tout seul!
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
6/23/2018 - EricLi wrote: 90 Points
Plum and oak. On Palate, it is smooth. Easy drink, but not the one for the long haul. Fruit gives away too fast. Drink rather than hold.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (2)
6/20/2018 - Matt T wrote: 92 Points
Impressive showing. Lots of chocolate, leather, and spice. Not sure I agree this is at the beginning of its drinking window. I think it is more likely in the middle of its window with a few more good years before the fruit starts to fade. For now, drinking very nicely.
4 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
6/14/2018 - 3daywinereview.com wrote: 93 Points
Day 1: This wine is outstanding! Slow ox for 2 hours. Nice fruit featuring Bing cherries and blueberries. Oak is present but settle down after an initial taste. Classic Rioja with leather, minerals and spices. On the finish picks up some mint elements. This is a super complex effort with a medium to long finish. I see this wine aging well for a decade. One of the better QPRs of the year. 93-95.
Day 2: Interesting on this wine. While I thought it might improve the opposite happened. Wine lacked the fruit and complexity of day 1. If I were to rate it on day two 87 points would have been given.
Recommendation: This is why I experiment over 3 days. This wine is a day 1 pop and pour and see the evolution over the night. I would actually consume these within 3 years for maximum enjoyment.
6 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
6/8/2018 - SGoenophile wrote: 89 Points
PnP. A bit thin. Quite simple, doesn’t have the complexity of its big brother 904 Gran Reserva. Lacking balance with rather high acidity and reticent fruit. Went well with Spanish tapas and grilled ribeye. Decent value considering price. Served from a half bottle.
4 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (2)
6/8/2018 - Gillmorphean Likes this wine: 92 Points
Ruby coloured with a paler, brick red rim. Aromas of black fruit, oak and tobacco. On the palate, deep, juicy dark fruit flavours of blackberry and raspberry. Very well integrated oak, tobacco and liquorice with a long smooth smoky finish. Structured, but unobtrusive tannins.
5 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
6/1/2018 - Bandreas Likes this wine:
From memory : This wine ( the minor brother of Reserva and Gran Reserva bottling of this estate)beats the minor brother of LdH, the Viña Bosconia by lengths in terms of elegance and complexity. Especially the 2008 vintage is a really well made wine..Delicious!
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
5/28/2018 - Tannatastic wrote: 88 Points
I'm really struggling to get on with this wine.
There's nothing particularly offensive about it, it just seems to lack both concentration and, more importantly, character when compared to all of the previous several vintages. And I personally think this is the key - 2001, 04 and 05 was a run of excellent vintages. Indeed, they had followed hot on the heels of '94 and '95. It also lacks all of the formers' 'sophistication' (each in differing but equally enjoyable ways). Even the 2007 (far from a stellar vintage, and certainly not up to the standards of the aforementioned 5) knocks it into a cocked hat for interest. I'm worried that Ardanza is now going to be produced every year (I suspect only '06 will be missing between '04 and '11), and therefore it's quality will be subsumed by economic necessity.
To put it into perspective, we followed it with a simple CVNE crianza, which was comfortably it's equal (in fact, probably slightly denser if anything). Ardanza is normally taking on Gran Reservas. I'm putting it down to vintage, and looking forward to what the '09 might bring.
4 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (9)
5/27/2018 - Slaz Likes this wine: 92 Points
Terrific value. Benefited from several hours of decanting; great acidity, wonderful nose, and no excess ripeness. What's not to like?
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
5/26/2018 - srh Likes this wine:
3 Shared Bottles (Vintage Wines Ltd., San Diego, CA): Once again, THANK you, Torben! :)
13.5% ABV; 1.8 g/l R.S., 6.1 g/l T.A., & 3.56 pH; 80% Tempranillo (aged in 4-year-old AM oak for 36 mos) and 20% Grenache (aged in 2- to 3-year-old AM oak for 30 mos).
N: ATTRACTIVE smoke with notes of flowers & earth? Rest tough to parse.
P: Med body; RNDISH entry with NICE frt met by some puckerish astringency which quite resolves by the LONG, very, VERY slightly bitter finish with a tangy/swtness to the minimal very, VERY fine tannins. 13.5% ABV; My EXC-. 95 pts Decanter [although it was 90 later on -- in their World Wine awards], 94 ea Suckling & Jamie Goode, 93 ea WA, Guia Penin, & Wine-Pages.com, 90 WS, & 17.5/20 Jancis Robinson. [I BELIEVE this vendor still has some @ $29.95.]
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/22/2018 - roel wrote: 90 Points
Very nice wine; red cherries and wood (notably less dill/vanilla as their Vina Alberdi). High acidity, needs food right now. I would have no problem forgetting this for 5 years or so in a far corner of my cellar and wait for it to mellow out.
4 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
5/22/2018 - grapenomad wrote: 92 Points
The Run-DMC of Spanish wine. The godfathers of Rioja. The liquid epitomes of Tempranillo and Garnacha. La Rioja Alta truly stands proud of its tradition and old school spirit to this day. It was founded in 1890 by five families, including Aranas, Ardanzas and the Alberdis (names now immortalised as Reservas). Today, the winery has a whooping 700ha of vineyards to show for. Besides the 904 Gran Reserva, the Ardanza definitely holds classic trademark quality. Big blueberry-vanilla pie on the nose with bits of herbs sneaking in. Medium-bodied and silky soft with ultra-rioe tannins. Long butterscotch finish. Coming from a very good, ripe year, this is a steal for €25 and even though I didn't try newer vintages yet, I have strong faith in the consistency of these formidable demi-gods.
6 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
5/19/2018 - Teaky Likes this wine:
Big vanilla and blueberry nose, very tannic at first, get cedar and oak flavors, big mouthfeel, long finish, big oak influence, get some fruit but hard to discern fruit flavors, some red fruit, maybe red cherry, reminds me a little of scotch (which I like). Nice, if not out of balance (I don't have a ton of experience with Rioja), get red fruits, red cherry. Drank from plastic cup.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1)
5/17/2018 - mats13 wrote: 92 Points
No notes taken at the time: medium body, earthy rioja styled with tradition in mind. No hurry at all on this, lots of life left and the promise of the rewards of age to come.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
5/17/2018 - JimTaft Likes this wine: 92 Points
This is my kind of wine, old world with a nod to the new. Huge acidity in close proximity to bright cherry (and many other) fruits. Medium body, but feels fuller if you like it. Soft, well resolved tannins. Did not pair well with tonight's beans and rice dish, maybe not too surprising!
To me, this is one of the great (miraculous) wines of the world but in an era of big California Cabernet it seems mostly ignored and neglected. Great complexity here with a long finish. What's not to like?
This bottle is produced by a very serious Rioja producer, their mid level product I believe. If you really didn't like it I suggest trying it again later in a different setting ... maybe with someone who LOVES it!
6 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
5/14/2018 - Yagil wrote: 91 Points
WSET course Level 2, graduation certificates distribution and blind tasting: clear, deep purple
clean, profound aromas of dark fruits with tart brioche hints
dry, high tannins, high acidity, medium body, lean structure, lean complexity, good finish, enjoyable
4 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
5/13/2018 - Mascarello59 Likes this wine: 91 Points
From a half bottle
Nice dark cherry fruit and vanilla aromas. High acidity and rather sleek and elegant. Smoke and licorice notes paired with good fruit. Still rather tannic so this should hold well. Overall very good balance. Much better than expected but let’s be sanguine about the score, a 91-92 wine.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
5/4/2018 - sduraybito wrote: 89 Points
Too acidic for my taste. Not a great food wine.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1)
4/29/2018 - pablor Likes this wine: 92 Points
P n p, and singing after just 15 minutes opened. I don t know it there is a case of bottle variability here but I can t see why the low scores. This bottle; if it’s not going to wow you, it is very good. For the 30 usd price paid I consider it does a very competent job and goes very well with light meat dishes or even poultry. I m not going to add more descriptors than the ones already reckoned here by other reviewers which are accurate, but I do make the case for raising the expectations from it. It is a good rioja, and by any means, a good buy. Of course I would buy it again if I can find it
5 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1)
4/28/2018 - srh Likes this wine:
Spanish Reds (Vintage Wines Ltd., San Diego, CA): 13.5% ABV; 1.8 g/l R.S., 6.1 g/l T.A., & 3.56 pH; 80% Tempranillo (aged in 4-year-old AM oak for 36 mos) and 20% Grenache (aged in 2- to 3-year-old AM oak for 30 mos).
N: Very slightly closed; Smoke, earth, with undertones of pomegranates? More to give?
P: Med, poss LM, body; NICE frt/oak met by some puckerish astringency which slowly morphs into a LONG, tangy finish with a bitSWTNESS to the very, VERY fine, somewhat spicy tannins. For now & POSS making its 15th, + MIGHT improve through '18. My VG+/EXC-. 95 pts Decanter [although it was 90 later on -- in their World Wine awards], 94 ea Suckling & Jamie Goode, 93 ea WA, Guia Penin, & Wine-Pages.com, 90 WS, & 17.5/20 Jancis Robinson. [VERY atypically, this vendor's $29.95 is one of the LEAST competitive prices in a MASSIVE wine-searcher field.]
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/20/2018 - Baron Slick wrote: 93 Points
This punches way above it's weight. The bouquet starts off shy before revealing black fruit, meat, fancy oak, walnut shell, and hints of balsam and spices. The palate is compact and layered, with serious structure, balance, and volume. Bright acidity and a creamy texture add depth to the tart cherry and orange citrus flavors. Finishes long and savory. A beautiful wine.
8 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
4/16/2018 - ChinaBounder Likes this wine:
Decanter Magazine was very positive about this wine, giving it 95 points.
Selections of their tasters’ comments:
Pedro Balleteros Torres: “A joyful fruit expression and serious depth. In the mouth it is amazingly complex, and unique. A benchmark Rioja blend.”
Sarah Jane Evans “A rich, sweet and savory reserve style with a load of red cherries and a strong Garnacha influence’
Pierre Mansour ‘A superb savory nose of leather.. a perfect combination of mellowness versus vigour’
I gave the wine a two-hour decant and it was pleasing but not terribly remarkable. Coming back to it the next day, however, it had notably evolved and I began to see what had excited the Decanter guys so much. It is a good wine. I think that given another few years this impressiveness will be much more obvious. For right now, it’s clearly not a good restaurant wine (how would you have time to let it breathe?) and it is a good home wine with a long decant. But on the whole it is one to cellar for a while longer; and indeed Decanter suggests drinking it 2017-2024 so it is just at the start of its drinking window (though I think it will easily last to 2035 or so).
My bottle cost 18 euros in March 2018; that’s very good QPR.
8 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1)
4/7/2018 - PSPatrick wrote: 90 Points
The wine was medium garnet in colour and offered floral notes, red fruit, intense strawberry, intense blackberry, coffee, cocoa, leather, tobacco, spices, cinnamon, vanilla, clove and balsamic notes on the nose and palate, with good acidity, smooth, mostly resolved tannin and superb length of the balsamic finish. This beautiful, medium-bodied Rioja was balsamic, balanced and very smooth. Its smooth texture truly stood out. Lovely. Good value.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (2)
4/7/2018 - Tannatastic wrote: 89 Points
This wine has taken something of a bashing in recent tasting notes, and I'm afraid at the moment I can't help but agree with some (if not all) of the criticisms.
Principally, for me, after recently having both the 2004 and '05, is that that this wine seems a little too 'polished', like it's had the edges knocked off it. The acid isn't particularly noticeable, the tannins are quite rounded, theres some fruit and some other stuff going on that makes it all quite pleasant.
But it doesn't make it particularly interesting. Perhaps this will garner more widespread (read larger market-share) appeal, but I'm really hoping that this isn't to be the new signature style moving forward for Ardanza, but a quirk of vintage, as for me it's character is being lost into a very anonymous, international style wine.
Again, a caveat, in that Ardanza usually takes a good decade+ from vintage to really start coming round and showing it's true self (I have been equally miserly with scores of other vintages in their youth). I'm hoping for the best, but can't help but have that nagging feeling about this one..
7 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
4/3/2018 - wgmccallum Likes this wine: 89 Points
Generous nose of black cherries, plums, coffee, maybe a little gluey. Deep penetrating fruit on the palate with a nice lashing of acid and smooth integrated tannins. A bit of a struggle between an emergent clarity and freshness and a some overweightness. Maybe time will tell how that comes out. Right now it is delicious with Nico's Tacos. 50 + 16 + 16 + 7 = 89. [Hard for me to know how much I am influenced by the discussion on Westopherguy's note just before mine.]
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1)
4/3/2018 - westopherguy Likes this wine: 86 Points
From time to time, I see the notes of others here, and wonder, “What am I missing?” Were my taste buds off? Was the bottle off? Were my expectations simply too high? Not sure, in this case, but regardless, I find it difficult to see what the fuss is about. If I’d paid, say, $25 for this wine? I’d probably find it more impressive. Considering it was $40, I expected more breadth and depth. What I found was a nose that was monotone, just nondescript fruit, and a palate that was nearly as unidimensional. It was pleasant enough — this is not by any means a “bad” wine. It was a really nice accompaniment to a dinner of Arroz con Pollo; a great pairing, where the wine made the food much more enjoyable. But on its own, and for this price, I would not pick the Ardanza again.
That being said, I think this is one where I would encourage the reader to try it, and make your own assessment; there’s just too much likelihood that my experience was a one-off given the reactions of others.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (8)
3/24/2018 - vlzat Likes this wine: 92 Points
80% Tempranillo and 20% Garnacha
Medium to full body, mature ruby color. Intense plum and vanilla aroma on first attack, continues with leather and cedar wood after aeration and again come back to impressive fruits. Dominant plum with delicate earthy notes palate and lingering juicy finish. Rich and complex but fresh and silky, well balanced, lovely berries acidity and completely integrated tannins. Food friendly, best match is meat dishes, tasted with stewed in vegetables veal. Open at least two hours ahead. Serve 18º - 22º. Drink now and next decade.
4 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (2)
3/19/2018 - df1962 wrote: 93 Points
PnP. Again problem with cork breaking off disintegrating and the last 1/3 having to be pushed into the bottle. Poured a couple of glasses then let it air for 2 hrs. Consistent with previous notes maybe a hair off and the cork was irksome with repetition. Deep complex and fresh.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
3/17/2018 - Cognacblanc Likes this wine: 88 Points
Smoky and delicate. A little short
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/15/2018 - belfast taxman wrote: 89 Points
Redfruit and a hint of pluminess but somewhat over dominated by the sweet vanilla of American Oak. I may leave this for a year or two to see if this resolves itself.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
3/11/2018 - amateur62 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Baratillo, Sevilla. Requires air to open, would be good to decant. More classical than 2007 Ardanza. On the nose plum, ethereal and earthy, great. On the palate fresh and still a bit tart in its youth, long finish. Beginning drinking window, good aging potential (2030+), 91 to 93 points.
5 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
3/10/2018 - Michael and Elizabeth Likes this wine:
Appearance: deep garnet
Nose: savoury, a little leathery, some raisin, touch of cedar
Palate: medium acidity; tannins now very soft; fruit - plums, some spice: pepper, something more aromatic; very good length
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
3/3/2018 - df1962 wrote: 94 Points
PnD let air for 2hrs. Consistent with previous notes. This continues to live up to expectations.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
3/1/2018 - Geoffy Likes this wine: 92 Points
Better than the 07
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
3/1/2018 - df1962 wrote: 94 Points
PnD after a huge struggle with the cork. Consistent with previous notes. Liked it just a touch more tonight. Love the depth complexity and freshness. It is all about the balance. Pound for pound dollar for dollar one of the great wines of the world.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
2/28/2018 - Breaktheory Likes this wine: 91 Points
Not as good as 07
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/27/2018 - Breaktheory Likes this wine: 90 Points
Not as good as 2007
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/18/2018 - Yagil wrote: 91 Points
Ramat-Aviv Boys meeting (at Dudu Milgrom): see my previous TN
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/18/2018 - progenitive Likes this wine: 93 Points
A recurring favorite. Drink at 61F if possible. In balance, complex, soft tannins.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
2/14/2018 - EMAZurich Likes this wine: 92 Points
Sehr „junge“ Farbe, helles und brillantes Rubinrot.
Kirsche und Rosenblätter, wie auch ein deutlicher Eukalyptus-Ton in der Nase.
Am Gaumen eher auf der säurebetonten Seite aber diese bringt eine tolle Frische in den Wein. Rotbeerig, forsche Tannine. Für den vollen Genuss braucht das noch Zeit würde ich sagen aber kann ohne weiteres bereits getrunken werden.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
2/9/2018 - PeterFromThePan Likes this wine: 90 Points
Pnp. This was interesting and different from a previous vintage I tried a few years back. It has a very velvety mouthfeel with flavors of oak and hints of caramel. Color has some brownish tint to it, as you would expect from an older wine. No sediments.
Overall, it’s an enjoyable wine but I am on the fence of whether I would buy again. Got this at a good price though ... just under $25. So, qpr is def there.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1)
2/7/2018 - belfast taxman wrote: 89 Points
Balance and poise looking to still have potential for further improvement I hope. Enough of the region’s characteristics to allow for easy identification as Rioja. Quite soft dark red fruits a hint of sweet vanilla from the oak. Lovely wine.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
1/29/2018 - Deux Chevaux wrote:
Dark ruby. Creamy vanilla on the nose. Same with the taste and mouth feel, but the important thing about this wine is: Beautiful balance and acid sufficient to stand up to the sweet oak. Luscious, generous, rich, with just enough savory aspect and a bare hint of astringency. Very enjoyable over four nights — and we purchased more.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1)
1/25/2018 - df1962 Likes this wine: 93 Points
PnP let air for 1hr. Amazing aroma from the moment the cork is popped. Consistent with previous notes. Great complexity richness and elegance. Seems to be none of bottle variation of the 2004 vintage.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1)
1/21/2018 - Cognacblanc Likes this wine: 93 Points
Continuously improved in the glass. Deep dark chocolate with long leather texture. Beautiful balance and perfect for highly flavoured food
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
1/20/2018 - srh Likes this wine:
Taste Wines from Spain (San Diego Wine Co.): 13.5% ABV; 1.8 g/l R.S., 6.1 g/l T.A., & 3.56 pH; 80% Tempranillo (aged in 4-year-old AM oak for 36 mos) and 20% Grenache (aged in 2- to 3-year-old AM oak for 30 mos).
N: Almost creamy vanilla with berries & earth
P: LM, poss Med, body; NICE, almost swtish frt NICELY counterbalanced by tangy acidity which slowly, fairly seamlessly morphs into a very LONG, tangy/swt finish with notes of spice & occasional very, VERY fine tannins. SUPERB for now & very likely 5 or 6 yrs more. My VG+/EXC-; 95 pts Decanter [although it was 90 later on -- in their World Wine awards], 94 ea Suckling & Jamie Goode, 93 ea WA, Guia Penin, & Wine-Pages.com, 90 WS, & 17.5/20 Jancis Robinson. [Quite atypically, this vendor's $28.99 is in the bottom quartile of a MASSIVE wine-searcher field.]
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/20/2018 - Slaz Likes this wine: 92 Points
Relatively young rioja that is consistently good across vintages. Terrific acidity and red-berry juiciness. Pairs really well with many dishes, including pizza and tacos.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/13/2018 - srh Likes this wine:
Spanish Reds (Vintage Wines Ltd., San Diego, CA): 13.5% ABV; 1.8 g/l R.S., 6.1 g/l T.A., & 3.56 pH; 80% Tempranillo (aged in 4-year-old AM oak for 36 mos) and 20% Grenache (aged in 2- to 3-year-old AM oak for 30 mos).
N: Slightly closed; smoke, some earth
P: LM, poss Med, body; NICE frt met by some tangy, VERY slightly tannic astringency which slowly, fairly seamlessly morphs into a LONG, tangy finish with an OCCASIONAL touch of bitterness. For now & another 4 or 5, + might still improve for a bit. My VG+, poss EXC- with some more age. 95 pts Decanter [although it was 90 later on -- in their World Wine awards], 94 ea Suckling & Jamie Goode, 93 ea WA, Guia Penin, & Wine-Pages.com, 90 WS, & 17.5/20 Jancis Robinson. [VERY atypically, this vendor's $29.95 is one of the LEAST competitive prices in a MASSIVE wine-searcher field.]
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1)
1/11/2018 - Fantasio Likes this wine: 90 Points
Super good. Oak in Rioja style.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/7/2018 - sdwineguru Likes this wine: 92 Points
Dark garnet; blackberry, natal plum, wood (American oak?) nose; mid-body; balanced; good fruit; softening tannins; long flavorful almost sweet finish. w/tri tip
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/7/2018 - Yagil wrote: 90 Points
WSET course Level 2, 4th session (WeWork complex, 7 HaPelech St., Tel-Aviv): clear, medium garnet
clean, pronounced, dark red fruits, meaty, herbal notes
dry, med acidity, high tannins, med body, red fruits, earth, meat, herbal
balanced, long finish, intense, complex - outstanding
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/25/2017 - dougsmith Likes this wine: 92 Points
Deep ruby color. Nose of tart red berries, dry spice, tobacco leaf, and a touch of sour cream. Medium bodied on the palate with great presence and length.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/24/2017 - Justin S Likes this wine: 92 Points
Absolutely fresh, red fruits, spiced finish, well balanced, integrated alcohol. Agree with wine strategies that the fruit is still quite primary, especially compared to the grand riserva. Still, drinks so well, must buy more!
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/18/2017 - Tim Heaton Likes this wine:
Off the list at Joe's Seafood, Las Vegas. The first bottle was corked, this, the replacement, was a PnP. Clearly a well-grown wine, but comes across a bit tight and a little too polished just now, offering up its pretty fruits, but less of a sense of place just now. Fast forward five years (i.e. HOLD), and I think this will bring a full offering of fruit and place - the other elements are certainly there to see this evolve quite positively over the coming 5-8 years; likely to continue drinking beyond that if your cellar is cool enough. Med>full-bodied, good acid lift, fine tannins, and mostly red fruited with just a touch of black fruit and dried herbs/dust. If I had any, I'd aerate to decanter for 2-3 hours or more) to let this run a little, it's got a good fill of quality material for an under $30 bottle ($100 on the list, sigh). recommended
7 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (2)
12/18/2017 - Tim Heaton wrote: flawed
TCA
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (2)
12/7/2017 - Matt T wrote: 90 Points
Very nice. A bit tight and tannic upon opening with some wood apparent, but this improved substantially after a day. Nice structure with good acidic balance and prominent notes of cherry, tobacco, and black pepper. Medium length finish.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/20/2017 - Andice wrote: 92 Points
Hard pressed to find a better wine at this price point. PnP. Ripe and calm nose, red fruits + saline + soy sauce, quite focused. On the palate, red fruits with a bit of spiciness kicking-in. Light on its feet but with substance and roundness. Acidity well in check (always my worry w Riojas). Finish could be longer.
5 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/17/2017 - df1962 wrote: 92 Points
PnD let air for 90mins. Dark sanguine purple alimony saturated with garnet to clear rim. Ripe and fresh in the nose with cherry leather cocoa strawberry tobacco sage anise and raspberry. Medium weight with light black tea tannins. A bit light on the palate with tons of freshness and complex with flavours that echo the nose lingering earthy raspberry finish. What a nose! Getting some more.
4 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/16/2017 - Slaz Likes this wine: 91 Points
Excellent quality/price. Decanting helps at this relatively young age.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/10/2017 - henrygjeffreys Likes this wine:
Red colour just a little fading at rim, looks much younger than nearly 10 year old wine
The nose is so fresh and vibrant, raspberries, floral, violets
Powdery tannins quite present and then the most amazing crunchy fruit
Oak beginning to integrate nicely. Long.
Amazing freshness, fruit quite different to other vintages of this wine, has a raspberry/ floral quality like Northern Rhone rather than ripe strawberry trad. rioja.
Can't wait to see how it ages.
8 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1)
11/7/2017 - andrewdodd86 Likes this wine: 91 Points
Thinner. Less acid than the '05 Tondonia. Light earth. Strawberry.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
10/28/2017 - srh Likes this wine:
Winebar [6 Reds & 6 Whites] for 10/27/17 (Vintage Wines Ltd., San Diego, CA): 13.5% ABV; 1.8 g/l R.S., 6.1 g/l T.A., & 3.56 pH; 80% Tempranillo (aged in 4-year-old AM oak for 36 mos) and 20% Grenache (aged in 2- to 3-year-old AM oak for 30 mos).
N: VANILLA with undertones of spice & poss earth
P: LM, poss Med, body; Almost swtish frt met by just a bit of astringent pucker which pretty much extends through the LONG, very slightly faint, spicy/tangy finish. MIGHT still improve for a yr or 2. 95 pts Decanter [although it was 90 later on -- in their World Wine awards], 94 ea Suckling & Jamie Goode, 93 ea WA, Guia Penin, & Wine-Pages.com, and 90 WS. [VERY atypically, this vendor's $29.95 is one of the LEAST competitive prices in a MASSIVE wine-searcher field.]
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/28/2017 - mikelikewine Likes this wine:
I have to agree with Harley that the style seems to be changing for the worse. I decanted for 2 hours but had a small glass straight out of the bottle, and at first there was so much oak it was overpowering (and I usually like oaky Rioja). The aroma and flavour of dill was definitely a bit much. After decanting it smoothed off a bit, and I did enjoy the wine, but not as much as previous vintages (2001 probably being my favourite). I’ve got 12 bottles in bond so want to believe it will improve in time but I’m not convinced at this point. Not saying it’s a bad wine, but if there was one winery I wanted to stay traditional it was LRA, and this is definitely a step towards the modern side.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
10/24/2017 - isaacjamesbaker wrote: 93 Points
Zachy's Extravaganza (Longview Gallery - Washington, DC): So fresh and herbal with love red fruits and lots of complex pepper and spice.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/23/2017 - Harley1199 wrote:
XVIII Salón de los Mejores Vinos de España -Peñín; 10/23/2017-10/24/2017 (IFEMA - Madrid): In my view the change of guard continues. I mean dense wines, chocolate and ready to enjoy immediately. Bottles for American restaurants before an amateur's cave. Evolving without looking back. A pity.
And by the way, it is also a shame or a disgraceful, according to what you see, that you could not taste 890 or 904 visiting LRA stand.
A mis ojos sigue el cambio de guardia. Me refiero a vinos más densos, achocolatados y listos para disfrutar de inmediato. Botellas de restaurante norteamericano antes que de la bodega de un aficionado. Evolucionar sin mirar atrás. Una pena.
Y por cierto, también es una lástima o una vergüenza, según se mire, que no se pudiesen catar ni el 890 ni el 904.
4 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (3)
10/17/2017 - GregB57 Likes this wine: 90 Points
Very nice with dark fruits and spice. Our hosts had this cooled down to about 50 degrees and it worked very well.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/3/2017 - fred o. Likes this wine:
Dark opaque violet. Expressive nose, vanilla and dark fruits. Palate surprisingly balanced to me based on my expectations from nose. Dark fruits, brambly, but light on its feet. Some spice. Some brooding depth. 90 pts for now, would have wished for some less vanilla/oak presence but wonder if that would subside with time.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
9/28/2017 - Doblk Likes this wine: 93 Points
Just great. Interesting mulchy nose. Plenty of sour cherry fruit with smoke, wood, tobacco and refreshing acidity. All very well organized. Still some softened tannin - it will keep longer but awfully good now.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
9/22/2017 - winelover 2016 Likes this wine: 92 Points
rfd; good value
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/21/2017 - henrygjeffreys Likes this wine:
Lots of fruit and a great perfume but still very very young
Delicious now but keep for Ardanza magic
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
9/15/2017 - forceberry wrote: 93 Points
A blend of Tempranillo (80%) and Garnacha (20%). The first vintage made completely from fruit sourced from own vineyards (traditionally at least a part of Garnacha has been purchased). Aged for 30 months (Garnacha) to 36 months (Tempranillo) in mainly used American oak barrels. Bottled in 2013 and released only recently.
Youthful, luminous and very deep black cherry color. Rather sweet, concentrated and ripe nose with a powerful attack of vanilla, followed by rich aromas of maraschino cherry, ripe boysenberries, some plum marmalade, a little bit of savory oak spice and a faintest hint of oxidative, pruney fruit from the long barrel aging. The wine is full-bodied, concentrated and rather textural on the palate with rich, complex and still quite youthful flavors of dark cherries, some sweet vanilla oak, a little bit of boysenberries, light woody bitterness, a hint of sweet - almost pruney - plum-driven dark fruit and a touch of sour plums. The wine shows terrific balance between intensity and sophistication, and between sweetness and savory structural feel. Overall the wine is pretty structured, thanks to pretty high acidity and medium tannins that show very nice, firm grip. The mouthfeel is very smooth and suave, rounded by long barrel age and the polishing touch of vanilla oak. The finish is long, lively and rather powerful with vibrant flavors of sour cherries, succulent plums, some bitter spices and peppery wood character, a little bit of vanilla oak, a hint of crowberry and a touch of strawberry jam. The already high acidity cuts through nicely towards the end of the aftertaste.
A very impressive and classic Ardanza that seems to show a bit more savory characteristics and acid cut than usual, but also quite a bit of ripe fruit characteristic of this great vintage. The wine feels still pretty primary (for one at 9 years of age) and the oak is still very prominent, but knowing the Ardanza style, at least the wood character will be like that for the next 30-50 years or so. However, aging the wine for 15-20 years will integrate some of the oak underneath the fruit and bring out more tertiary complexity, so there is no need to pop these beauties open anytime soon. Will keep for decades if properly stored, so better get at least a few of these vanilla-driven Rioja classics and stash them away in the remotest corner of your cellar for a decade or two. Great value at 24€.
4 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
9/11/2017 - Breaktheory Likes this wine: 90 Points
Really opened up after an hour in the glass - started w spicy chocolate and dried berries - developed some caramel and cinnamon - not fruit forward very nice smooth tannins not too acidic - really nice
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/2/2017 - Torchy wrote: 85 Points
Winewakers Blind BYO; 9/2/2017-9/3/2017 (Home): Much the same as the 2007, except the use of oak is more prominent here. The wine will get better with age.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/5/2017 - JimmyBubbles Likes this wine:
Joven, joven, joven. Nariz cargada de madera ahora mismo.
La boca es otra cosa, excelente finura, largo, cuestión de tiempo?
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/5/2017 - isaacjamesbaker wrote: 93 Points
Deep ruby/light purple color. Nose is dense with a deep core of plums, black cherries and red currants, along with potting soil, chewing tobacco, leather, allspice, some cedar and vanilla. Medium-bodied, seriously sturdy tannins, but vibrant acidity, makes for a young but fresh wine. Plums, black cherries, currants, the fruit is dense but crisp, laced with soil, tobacco, leather, pepper, sage, also some coffee grounds and dark chocolate. Lots going on here, but I would bury this in the back of the cellar, forget it for 10-15 years, and be amazed at what it has to offer. 80% Tempranillo, 20% Garnacha, bottled in 2013.
5 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
7/15/2017 - La Cave d'Argent Likes this wine: 93 Points
This deep garnet wine is a blend of 80% Tempranillo and 20% Grenache, with the latter being entirely sourced for the first time from estate vineyards. With a core of dried cherry fruit, it adds notes of clove, tangerine and tobacco. Full-bodied, freshly acidic, seamlessly alcoholic (13.5%) and with well-integrated oak, it is dense in the middle and has plentiful fine-grained tannins. The most impressive attribute of this wine is its finish, which elevates the tangerine component during its impressively long duration. Give it an hour or more in decanter and serve it at no higher than 65°F. This is a top-quality Spanish offering that performs well above its price point. Drink now-2022.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
6/29/2017 - SonnyChiba wrote: 92 Points
91-92pts. Impressive. Had it at a restaurant in Barcelona. Already developed nicely, good fruit, bit of earthy notes in the background, balanced. Good weight to it, beautiful with food. Exceptional value.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
6/27/2017 - justceg wrote: 94 Points
I really enjoyed this wine. Still Ripe but very savory with a long aftertaste. Classic Rioja flavors like cherry. There was definitely vanilla/oak but it was in the background and added to the flavor. Seemed to evolve with each sip. At first taste I thought it was pretty good, but at the last sip I thought it was great.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
6/26/2017 - sjw_11 wrote: 86 Points
Mid-red. Some brown tints at the edges. The nose is slightly secondary, with even some tertiary elements. Some funk or barnyard. Some green notes. Vanillin oak plays a significant role. On the palate there is a wave of hot, ripe red berries. Slightly unbalanced.
Not altogether convincing on this showing, but I question if the bottle was 100% sound (although there was no obvious TCA, unlike a bottle of the 2007 from the same delivery).
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/22/2017 - Harley1199 wrote:
Cata Histórica de Viña Ardanza (Bodega Santa Cecilia - Madrid): For the first time Ardanza made only with 100% own grapes.
Following the change of style. From the most stale tradition to the pure modern style. Currants in wood. It could be a RdD, a bottle of Roussillon or a Terre Alta wine.
In the mouth it is ready to accompany food with a nice balance between acidity and tannin. Restaurants worldwide are happy. Still not for me.
Por vez primera aún Ardanza elaborado sólo con uva propia al 100%
Sigue el cambio de estilo. De la mas rancia tradición hacia el puro estilo moderno. Grosellas en madera. Podría ser un RdD, una botella del Rosellón o un Terre Alta.
En boca esta lista para acompañar comida con un equilibrio entre acidez y tanino. Aún así no es para mi.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
6/17/2017 - zhearr wrote: 92 Points
woody, oxidative, velvety, savory. unmistakably rioja. great succulence. serious complexity and concentration but still mid-weight and fun to drink.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/1/2017 - DoubleMagnum Likes this wine: 91 Points
Oaky, young and slightly tannic but with a good amount of extract. More than the last few vintages. This should age well. I haven't felt this level of concentration since 2001. Buy a case and keep it for a decade or two.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
5/29/2017 - EricLi wrote: 92 Points
Youthful. Oaky and vanilla. Mouthful tannins. Very very nice!
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
5/11/2017 - Paul D wrote:
Tasted at Bodega. Medium/deep garnet, pale garnet rim. Slightly reticent, richer, darker toned than the Arana, spicy edge. Medium/full bodied, tobacco, fresh acids, very good length finish. Very good indeed.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/9/2017 - Bandreas wrote:
Charming wine, full bodied, firing on all cylinders.
Nice complexity, too and should last easily for another 10 years
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
4/23/2017 - Tannatastic Likes this wine: 91 Points
First try of this new release.
Usually with Ardanza, it's a fool's errand to be opening one so young - they generally seem a little youthful and acidic.
However, in my own opinion, this is a slight departure from the usual Ardanza house style. It has a very chocolatey/bitter cocoa profile and a different mouthfeel with a drying finish than is usual.
I know the company is quite proud that it now uses all grapes in-house for this bottling (for the first time in 2008), and freely admits to 'evolution'.... but for me it's not so classic Ardanza. I also admit to rubbishing the 2004 on release, only to completely change my mind as the vintage aged, so it may just prove me wrong. But this, I feel is different.
I also feel that this doesn't have the ageability of previous vintages - there doesn't seem to be 'substance' to it. But maybe modern winemaking techniques can now deliver wines that can be drunk throughout their lifetime?
Anyway, it's still a very enjoyable wine, but I'm not sure I could refer to it as classic or classical.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment